Palace eyes informal meeting with MILF in early November

Despite the clash that killed 19 soldiers in Basilan on October 18, Malacañang still expects a scheduled meeting between government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front negotiators to push through in early November. Presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles on Saturday said she was positive the informal meeting between the two panels will not be postponed or scrapped over the deadly incident. “We are confident there will be a face-to-face informal panel meeting within November, sa tingin ko it will be early November," she said on government-run dzRB radio. She also hinted the panels may take up the October 18 clash in Basilan and discuss “accountability" along with measures to make sure the incident is not repeated. The killing of the 19 soldiers sparked calls to scrap the peace process, but President Benigno Aquino III rejected such calls, ordering government troops instead to pursue the perpetrators. “Dahil nangyari ang Al-Barka [clash], kung magkita ang dalawang panel, mag-usap ano ang kailangan gawin para kung may accountability, magawa 'yan, at masiguradong 'di maulit itong klaseng insidente," Deles said. “Ang peace talks makakatulong sa paghanap ng accountability sa nangyari sa Al-Barka (We believe the peace talks can help find accountability on what happened in Al-Barka)," she added. She also said the panel meeting will likely take place in Kuala Lumpur, although she said there are no further details for now. Deles said the scheduled informal talks show the government remains committed to the peace process while pursuing an “all-out justice" to pursue “criminal elements" in Mindanao. “Kaya gawin ang (We can do) law enforcement, it can and will push through, at the same time we protect the gains of the peace process," she said. Meanwhile, Deles said she was relieved that emotions have leveled off over the government’s P5-million grant to the MILF for a leadership institute. “Sana ngayon naintindihan ng lahat ang P5 million hindi sa MILF (We hope the public understands the P5 million was not intended for the MILF per se)," she said. Deles also said she will file a formal report to Aquino on her trip to Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan last Friday. With Deles on Friday’s trip were secretaries Jesse Robredo (interior) and Corazon Soliman (social welfare). — LBG, GMA News