Palace: Talks will continue, but trust in MILF has limits

While it said it will stick to the peace process despite the death of 19 soldiers in a clash with secessionists in Basilan, Malacañang on Saturday hinted there is limit to its trust and faith in the sincerity of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, however, maintained the government will still exhaust all avenues towards peace because the human cost of going to war is too high. “It’s not ever-faithful and ever-trusting... we are aware how high emotions are running but at this point, peace is the better option. The human cost of going to war is too high to take," she said on government-run dzRB radio, when asked if the government is still “ever-trusting" and “ever-faithful" to the MILF after this week’s incident. For now, she said the government has mechanisms to avail of under the peace agreement. She said the military had already said it plans to file charges against those behind the killing. “We repeat, we are seeking justice at the right place at the right time. Claims that we are not giving due recognition of the sacrifices of our soldiers... is the farthest thing from the truth," she said. Valte also fended off speculations that President Benigno Aquino III had become protective of the MILF, after he met with the group's leaders in Japan last August 4. “It’s a show of good faith. We sincerely believe the peace talks is something we should invest in," she said of the Japan meeting. She also said that while Malacañang understands the sentiment of many Filipinos, it must not base its decisions on emotions. “We understand the sentiments of people outraged by what happened. We are one with you. But as President Aquino said, we must make decisions when we are calm," she said. “The president is aware of the call for all-out war and he has said no... and he has reiterated his reason for saying so... the price is too high, the human cost is too great," she added. Several sectors have called for the scrapping the peace process with the MILF after Tuesday’s clash in Basilan. Last Friday evening, the remains of 15 of the soldiers were brought to Metro Manila while the four others who were from Mindanao were left there. President Aquino personally condoled with the slain soldiers’ families who were at the Libingan ng mga Bayani mortuary. There, Aquino reiterated that the peace process will continue, even as government troops pursue those who killed the soldiers. Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Friday called on the Aquino administration to end the truce with the MILF and launch a war against the group. Estrada's sentiments were echoed by his son, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, even calling for the resignation of Teresita Deles as presidential adviser on the peace process. Last Thursday, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also urged Aquino to stop the peace talks because, according to him, the MILF is not sincere in peace efforts. Former police chief and Senate defense committee chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson also urged Aquino to do what Estrada did in 2000 that led to the fall of several MILF camps in Mindanao. Army spokesman's sacking Meanwhile, Valte indicated the relief of Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. was not due to gagging him for supposedly telling the “truth" but for questioning the ceasefire policy. She did not immediately confirm if it was Aquino himself who ordered Parlade relieved from his post. “Spokespersons like us should always keep in mind we cannot air our personal opinions. We answer questions for our principal. In my case and in presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda’s case, our principal is the president. In Col. Parlade’s case, his principal is the Army. We cannot give our personal opinions," she said. Valte also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines should not misinterpret the relief of Parlade and Col. Alex Macario, head of the Special Operations Task Force Basilan, as the government siding with the MILF. She said there were lapses that were pointed out during Friday’s command conference at Camp Aguinaldo. “We want to see what we can do to improve our military. The killing of 19 soldiers is no joke, so we want our procedures to make sure our military is always at optimum level," she said. Ongoing investigation Aquino, in a chance interview in Taguig City Friday night, said an investigation is ongoing, and he expects the results by this coming week. “We expect the results of the investigation by this coming week. If there is need to subject some soldiers to a court martial for lapses, that will all come out in the investigation," he said. On the other hand, Valte said the investigation would include reports involving the possibility of a tipster from within the military informing enemy troops of their movements. “As the president said last night, that will be part of the investigation," she said. Also to be included in the investigation is the allegation that the soldiers in the Basilan clash ran out of ammunition while engaging the enemy, she said. Meanwhile, Valte said Aquino has so far given no hint he would replace officials involved in the peace process, including presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles and Marvic Leonen, the chairman of the peace panel dealing with the MILF. “That is something up to the president to decide. So far the president has not given any indications to going that way," she said. — LBG, GMA News