Govt to negotiate with MILF on possible Asnawi turnover

The issue on Dan Laksaw Asnawi, a deputy commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) wanted for his involvement in attacks on government soldiers, will be among the subjects of negotiation between the government and the rebel group. “With respect to Asnawi, obviously there is a difference of opinion and this is of course something we will negotiate also with the MILF," said Marvic Leonen, the government’s chief negotiator in the talks with the MILF, during a forum of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on Wednesday. Asnawi, deputy commander of the MILF’s 114th base command, has been the subject of manhunt operations since he bolted the Basilan Provincial Jail in December 2009. He was allegedly among the MILF rebels who beheaded 10 Marines following an encounter in Al-Barka town in Basilan in 2007. He and his men were also reported to be among the forces that attacked a military patrol in Al-Barka last October 18, resulting in the deaths of 19 soldiers — an encounter that the MILF said would not have happened if the military honored the agreement on the rebel group’s area of temporary stay (ATS). But the MILF, through its vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar, had rejected calls for them to turn in Asnawi, saying the joint government-MILF investigation showed that the MILF had nothing to do with the beheading of the Marines in 2007. Leonen said they are still meeting with the MILF ad hoc joint action group (AHJAG) regarding the matter. “We are will await the results of that meeting," he said. The Philippine Army has already lodged a complaint before the ceasefire committee, citing as truce violations the MILF's continuous refusal to turn in Asnawi and his men. Leonen refused to answer what the government would do should the MILF insist on keeping Asnawi. “We will deal with it when it happens, if it happens. I cannot speculate," he said. He added: “We will not comment on ongoing operations. We feel we are not competent to do so and it will jeopardize any operation." Leonen said they are confident the military would not do anything to jeopardize the peace process. “They know exactly what that means, and what’s allowed and what’s not allowed, and how they do operations without jeopardizing the peace talks," he said. Leonen said that they will soon meet with their MILF counterparts for another round of exploratory talks. The last one was on Nov. 3 in Kuala Lumpur. “[It will be] very soon," Leonen said. “The dates are soft, some other things are still being explored." "What is positive is that the parties, despite of what has happened on the ground, decided that it is time to move forward. We are not at liberty to divulge as of the present what the agenda is except that both parties agreed to move with the substantive agenda," he added - KBK, GMA News