Govt rep.: Some groups want to derail peace talks

Some groups intend to derail the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the government chief negotiator said in a statement Wednesday. “I would like to warn the public against people who have vested interests and would like to see the peace talks collapse," said chief negotiator Marvic Leonen in a statement by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. “I call on all stakeholders to remain vigilant and analytical of the issues," Leonen said. The chief negotiator, who arrived Tuesday from an informal meeting with the MILF in Kuala Lumpur, said he has also received reports from “trusted sources" that these groups will spread propaganda against the peace process. “They will sow information that intends to deceive the public and break people’s trust in the government," Leonen said. On Monday, the government and the MILF cut short their two-day meeting and opted to reset the formal resumption of peace negotiations to August. Meanwhile, government military adviser Brig. Gen. Restituto Aguilar urged the people behind the recent bombings in Kidapawan and Cotabato cities to desist from engaging in Criminal Acts that might “jeopardize the peace process." “How can we gain wide public support for the Mindanao peace agreement if bombings and violence continue? I really hope that this is not related to the talks," Aguilar said. — PE/VS, GMA News