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Enrile to Palace: Stop peace talks with MILF


Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday urged Malacañang to stop the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in light of the clash between government and secessionist forces in Basilan that resulted in the death of 19 soldiers. "They better break it (peace talks) up and conduct an operation unless the MILF will surrender those people who committed that... one-way traffic yang peace process na 'yan, 'di pwede yun," Enrile told reporters on Thursday. "My God, that (presidential peace adviser Teresita) Deles should be fired if she insists on a peace process that she cannot handle... she's insisting on the peace process when the soldiers of the republic are being killed," he added. Earlier, Deles and government peace panel head Marvic Leonen called the clash an "isolated" incident. Enrile, however, said that it was impossible that the hierarchy of the MILF did not give a clearance for the attack. "(If not) then this is the duty of the MILF to run after their renegade members if they are really sincere with the republic," he said. Deles said they plan to resume the peace talks in November. But Enrile said he does not believe in the sincerity of the MILF. "What peace talks are we talking about when they are engaging us in combat? There is a ceasefire, they are engaging us in combat. What assurance can that Deles give the nation that the peace process will go through with this kind of situation? Are we willing to be fooled by these people and sacrifice the lives of our soldiery?" he said. But Enrile noted that it was not a matter of staging an all-out war but a of enforcing order. "When your soldiers are being killed that means they're conducting a warfare against the government of the republic," he said. Earlier in the day, former Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. also said Deles should be held accountable for the clash. Sen. Francis Escudero, for his part, said that the incident should not get in the way of the negotiations. “It is imperative for our negotiators to pursue efforts to finally find peace in Mindanao. But they should also give equal importance to the lost lives of our soldiers who were vital instruments in protecting our people from rogue elements," Escudero said in a statement released Thursday. — LBG, GMA News

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