Palace slams 'malicious' text messages on 'aid' to MILF

Malacañang on Wednesday scored what it called malicious text messages making insinuations about a P5-billion "aid" it gave to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) recently. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda scored the timing of the text messages, which he said insinuated President Benigno Aquino III gave P5 billion to the MILF when he met its top leaders in Japan last August. "I have talked to the President about these text messages. These text messages are malicious, and sent at a time soldiers are angry," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. He was referring to the sentiment of soldiers following the death of 19 soldiers in a clash in Basilan last week. Several sectors had called on Aquino to end peace efforts with the MILF following the clashes. But Aquino had refused to heed these calls and instead ordered intensified police and military operations to pursue the perpetrators. Last weekend, the Palace also announced Aquino ordered the release of P10 billion to modernize the military's equipment. Lacierda said the text messages indicated Aquino gave the P5-billion aid as early as August when he met with top MILF officials in Japan. He said the amount was only P5 million, which was a commitment by the Arroyo administration to establish a Bangsamoro institution that would train future leaders. "This is (an) institution-building (program) which we found worth pursuing," he said. He said Marvic Leonen, the chairman of the government peace panel dealing with the MILF, turned over the amount to the MILF. "My understanding was that the amount was in the form of a check," he said. Lacierda also denied "disinformation" that Aquino had demanded MILF chairman Al-Haj Murad an accounting. "None at all. Hindi namin pinapa-explain paano [ginamit ang] P5 million," he said. Lacierda also sought to reassure soldiers the government is committed to fiscal reform while providing soldiers with updated equipment and combat pay. "Ang saloobin ng Pangulong Aquino, those who defend the state must be given (due) benefits (President Aquino believes those who defend the state must be given the benefits due them)," he said. — LBG, GMA News