MILF accepts invitation for resumption of talks

By David Cagahastian

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has accepted the Arroyo administration’s invitation to resume peace negotiations with the government.

This was bared yesterday by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales after a briefing with Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople.

The peace process was set back last month by a series of fightings between the MILF rebels and government forces in Mindanao.

The MILF has received and reviewed a draft agreement proposal prepared by the government with the assistance of Malaysia, Ermita said. "But there is no definite date yet for the start of the negotiations. "We only know that it would be within the month," Ermita said.

Malaysia has actively mediated in earlier peace talks between the MILF and the government.

The MILF had earlied expressed its desire to resume peace negotiations with Malaysia as mediator.

The government is studying the possibility of dropping criminal charges filed against MILF leaders in line with its peace initiatives.

The charges were filed following several bombings in Mindanao, including the Davao City International Airport blast last March 4 that killed 23 people. Truce panel

Dumara

Lanao del Sur Rep. Faysah RPM Dumarpa (PDP-Laban) called yesterday for the immediate creation of an independent body that will enforce the existing ceasefire agreement between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Dumarpa said the creation of an Independent Monitoring Committee will prevent a repeat of the unfortunate military operations against Muslim rebels in Pikit, North Cotabato last month which have triggered renewed hostilities and endangered the two-year peace negotiations.

"I reiterate my call for the creation of an independent monitoring body to be composed of representatives from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), MILF, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)," Dumarpa said.

"This body shall oversee the positions of Army troops and the MILF in order to ensure compliance with the existing ceasefire agreement and pinpoint responsibility for any truce violations," he said.

Dumarpa also accused certain quarters of trying to present a false picture of the armed conflict in Mindanao by accusing Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. of politicking for denouncing Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes for instigating the military offensive.

She said the one-page advertisement in the major dailies criticizing Pimentel did not answer the questions raised by the senator from Mindanao on why the Army was ordered to mount the massive military offensive as the government and MILF were preparing to resume the peace talks.

Dumarpa said the military assault on the Buliok complex in Pikit, North Cotabato, showed the insensitivity of Secretary Reyes and other hawks in the administration because that attack was launched on the day Muslims throughout the world were celebrating the Feast of Sacrifice.

According to the Muslim legislator, independent fact-finding teams like the Karapatan and civic groups attested that the military offensive of Feb. 14 was unleashed when Muslims were about to enter the mosque for the jummah Eid Adha morning prayer.

"That day was one of the holiest days for Muslims when no activity other than prayer and religious festivities are performed," she said.

Dumarpa expressed dismay over the supposed results of a public opinion survey divulged by President Arroyo showing that most Filipinos favor an all-out war against the enemy in Mindanao.

"Mindanao is no longer a land of promise but of chaos and war," she said. "Here comes the cry of some sectors to wage an all-out war against the MILF which, to me, is misplaced."

She said the military may succeed in crippling the MILF but the war will turn for the worse as the rebels will resort to guerrilla tactics.

10 killed

COTABATO CITY - At least 10 civilians were killed while four others were injured as separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerillas indiscriminately stepped up their counter attacks against government troops in Central Mindanao yesterday, the military said.

Local Army spokesman Maj. Julieto Ando said nine of the fatalities were passengers of a van flagged down yesterday morning by MILF combatants along the highway in Talayan, Maguindanao, which links this city to Gen. Santos City.

Mayor Muslimin Sema here said an improvised bomb exploded beneath a Toyota Tamaraw FX in front of of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral along Quezon Ave. at about 12:20 noon. Two civilians were reportedly hurt in the blast.

An hour before, MILF rebels fired upon a group of farmers in Sitio Pedtad, barangay Baligue, Midsayap town, killing Teofilo Cabilio, 39, and wounding Nicomedez Caman.

Earlier in Talayan town, Maguindanao, Muslim guerillas seized nine passengers of a van and shot them dead in the interior of nearby barangay Macasampan.

The series of attacks broke out as Central Mindanao official led by Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol passed a resolution last night asking President Arroyo to make North Cotabato as the next venue of the Philippines-US military exercise to help free other areas in the province from MILF control.

Sixth Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Julieto Ando blamed the incidents on the MILF, an allegation rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu vehemently denied. Kabalu said that other people could have orchestrated the incident for their vested interests.

Ando said that over 100 MILF fighters occupied a portion of the Cotabato-General Santos national highway in barangay Macasampan, Talayan town since 1:30 a.m. and prevented motorists from passing. The military cleared the area at around 8:30 a.m. (J. Maitem / A. Macabalang)

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