Mindanao solon doubts peace process would succeed with Deles in post

A lawmaker on Monday expressed concern that the peace process in Mindanao might not prosper if President Benigno Simeon Aquino III would retain Secretary Teresita Deles as the government's peace adviser. In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong said the peace process might be jeopardized because the credibility of Deles is being questioned not only by the Mindanao lawmakers but by the entire House of Representatives. “It will be hard to achieve peace in Mindanao if there is no support of Muslim leaders on the ground. You know we won’t be in this position if we do not have followers," he said. GMANews.TV attempted to obtain the response of Deles to Loong's comments but her office staff said the peace adviser was in a meeting. GMANews.TV also sent a text message to Deles but received no response. On Saturday, the House adopted a resolution calling for the resignation of Deles for her alleged high-handed attitude toward Lanao del Norte Rep. Aliah Dimaporo. A copy of the resolution will be sent to Aquino. On Monday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President stands by and continues to have confidence in Deles. Loong admitted they cannot do anything if Aquino would ignore the sentiment of the House. He added that the success of the peace process is doubtful now that some of the Muslim leaders no longer have confidence in Deles. “If there is no working team as far as the peace process is concerned, mahihirapan talaga. Ilang taon na ba yang problema, more than 40 years. This is not an ordinary problem as the lives and security of the Muslim people are at stake," he said. Asked if he could name a person who could help in the peace process, Loong mentioned Margarita ‘Tingting’ Cojuangco, whom he said, is respected in Muslim communities. Cojuangco, president of the Philippine Public Safety College, is an aunt of the President. Support for Deles Meanwhile, "Kaya Natin!," a group of former and incumbent government officials espousing genuine change and ethical leadership, issued a statement on Monday expressing support for Deles. "We are disappointed with the unanimous resolution passed by the House of Representatives calling for her resignation. We sincerely believe that this resolution is totally uncalled for and does not represent the true sentiments of the Filipino people which our leaders in Congress are mandated to represent," the group said. The group also appealed for the immediate withdrawal of the resolution. The group believes that "sacrificing an honest, competent and hard working leader such as Sec. Deles in order to pacify the opposition is unwarranted and unjustifiable." "We believe that Sec. Deles has diligently helped our nation move forward towards attaining lasting peace and development in Mindanao through her work as the leader of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process," it said. It added taking Deles out now will only stymie the efforts of the present administration to bring about peace in Mindanao. It further noted that while there might be a misunderstanding between Deles and Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo, the peace adviser's resignation is not the solution to the issue.. "We urge Rep. Dimaporo and Sec. Deles to dialogue and work together towards resolving their personal differences for the sake of unity and good governance in our country," the group said. Among the members of the group and signatories to the statement were: