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THE rash
of violence perpetrated by alleged factions of the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in parts of Mindanao has
prompted President Arroyo to convene an expanded
Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac)
on Friday to focus on the Mindanao situation and the
peace process.
Press
Secretary Jesus Dureza said the special Ledac meeting
may include a review of the peace negotiations and its
possible suspension, as well as the memorandum of
agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) in view of the
recent attacks of MILF units on civilian communities in
Lanao del Norte and other areas.
“The
situation is serious enough for the President to call
for a multisectoral and a wide-ranging group of leaders
who can advise on this particular problem currently
afflicting Mindanao,” he said.
Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said
among those invited are administration and opposition
lawmakers, Cabinet officials, local executives, sectoral
representatives and other prominent stakeholders from
Mindanao.
The
Ledac hopes to reinforce previous mechanisms for
consultations and dialogue on the Mindanao issue, since
the holding of the meeting “addresses the need for close
coordination between the government and the civilian
population and other stakeholders in Mindanao especially
at this time,” said Claudio.
In a
radio interview, Dureza said the peace negotiations “on
a policy level. . . are now being subject to very close
review in consideration of recent incidents and how the
MILF will conduct itself vis-à-vis the actions of its
two commanders—Umbra Kato and Bravo—in North Cotabato
and Lanao del Norte, respectively.”
“Are
they toying with us? They are saying that they have no
control over these people. . . .What if we sign a peace
agreement with them, and there are people like these who
will create trouble? What will be the use of this peace
agreement?” asked Dureza.
Dureza
said the existence of MILF factions and their potential
threat to peace and security even with the
signing of a final peace pact with the mainstream MILF
would be “one of the points that we would like to look
[at] closely and be a factor in the review.”
On the
explanation of the MILF leadership that Kato’s and
Bravo’s actions were “emotional” manifestations of their
displeasure over the postponement of the MOA-AD signing,
Dureza wondered aloud why they had to react so
violently.
“If
you’re emotional about it, why do you have to attack
villages; why do you have to kill people; why do you
have to destroy buildings; why do you have to cut up
some ears of some guys? This is what happened. If these
are the guys you have to deal with in a peace
negotiation, then we are informed accordingly,” added
Dureza.
Would
the government suspend the peace negotiations? Dureza
replied, “We are going to review this perhaps in the
coming Ledac. This can be one discussion point.”
But
Dureza maintained the administration remains committed
to pursuing peace in Mindanao. “We have not changed our
policy. In Mindanao, there is no alternative but peace.”
Dureza
said the Department of Foreign Affairs is expected to
brief the diplomatic corps, especially those involved in
Mindanao, on the situation on government efforts to
address the matter.
Dureza,
who hails from Davao, expressed concern over the impact
of the violent incidents on investments in Mindanao as
“no investors will come if we are pictured to be a
troubled area.”
Meanwhile, President Arroyo ordered massive relief
operations for thousands of people displaced by the
attacks. Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and
Health Secretary Francisco Duque will personally
oversee “intervention measures” and Defense Secretary
Gilbert Teodoro, chairman of the National Disaster
Coordinating Council, will “trigger the release of
funds for relief and rehabilitation of affected
families and other victims.”
He said
the President also directed the Department of Education
and the Department of Public Works and Highways “to
inspect, assess and immediately take action to rebuild
destroyed structures.” |
