MILF eyes dialogue with bishops over P5-M ‘aid’

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is considering seeking a dialogue with at least three Catholic bishops who criticized a P5-million "aid" from the government for a Moro leadership development institute. MILF peace panel secretariat head Jun Mantawil said the panel is considering inviting the bishops who reportedly found the aid "very distressing." “We will reach out to them first through a mutually acceptable go-in-between... We have very reliable line of communication with the Catholic Church," Mantawil said in an article on the MILF website, but did not elaborate. The MILF said it is considering inviting Bishops Leonardo Medroso (Tagbilaran) and Elenito Galido (Ilagan), as well as Auxiliary Bishop Colin Bagaforo (Cotabato). It cited earlier reports quoting the three bishops as saying there is no justification for the government to give "dole-outs" to insurgents. Also, the MILF noted former military vicar Bishop Ramon Arguelles had been quoted as saying the "dole-outs" will mean "more dead soldiers, widows and orphans." On the other hand, the MILF noted Bagaforo, son of a retired military man, is known for his critical views on many facets of the government ways to address the conflict in Mindanao. Mantawil lamented that even Church leaders utter highly divisive statements that nurture and provide foundation for hatred and animosities in society, instead of helping promote peace. He also expressed dismay that the P5-million issue refuses to die down even as it has already been explained “very clearly" by former government peace panel chairmen Silvestre Afable and Rodolfo Garcia, from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. — MRT, GMA News