Govt rejects MILF's request to stop oil explorations in Sulu, Cotabato

The government on Tuesday rejected calls by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to temporarily stop the onshore and offshore gas and oil explorations in some areas in Mindanao covered by the ancestral domain issue. “There is nothing in the existing agreements with the MILF which prevents any exploration, development and utilization of natural resources," said Teresita Deles, the presidential adviser on the peace process. “I do not think that it is the intention of the MILF to ask government to do nothing to better the lives of everybody when the opportunity is there," she added. The MILF, the largest secessionist organization in the country, has asked the government to temporarily stop the explorations pending the resolution of the ancestral domain issue in the peace negotiations. MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the Bangsamoro people will lose their rightful share if the government pursues these undertakings in the Moro areas. Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras had earlier said that they have presented to prospective investors three onshore and 12 offshore oil and gas explorations in Cotabato and Sulu provinces, as well as in Central Luzon, Palawan, and Mindoro. He said contracts could be awarded by early next year, and that the total investment potential for the projects is about $7.5 billion. MILF and government negotiators met in formal talks last June 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with no progress reached. He said the government panel failed to submit their counter proposal on the MILF’s draft peace agreement. - KBK, GMA News