“Why do we need an international observer team?” Enrile asked. “Is this [MILF problem] an internal or international problem? Why did we make it an international problem?”

Enrile explained that the MILF issue “involved our internal laws, our Constitution; why would they make it international?”

He suggested that the Philippine government should reconsider the matter of bringing in Malaysians and other international observers into the Mindanao conflict. “Pag-aralan nila ulit because this is strictly an internal security problem.”

At the same time, Enrile admitted he does not see any substantive accord arising at the November 14 peace talks between the government and the MILF, so soon after the massacre of 19 soldiers in Basilan at a so-called area of temporary stay controlled by MILF rebels in Basilan, as well as the subsequent clashes in other parts of Mindanao.

“I am pessimistic about it,” Enrile said. “What will they talk about? Hindi pa nga nila naaayos ang nangyari sa mga sundalo sa encounters sa Basilan at [Zamboanga] Sibugay.”

A longtime National Defense Minister, Enrile figured out that the recent attacks were mounted to project a strong rebel presence in the South before the peace talks with the government.

Enrile surmised that the attacks were intended to “test the resolve” of the Armed Forces and were also part of the MILF’s preparations for the new round of negotiations with the government.

“So, ano ang pag-uusapan nila when the MILF already said it will insist on their demand for a substate?” Enrile asked.

Palace cool to convening of Council of State

MALACAÑANG on Monday appeared cool to the proposed convening of the Council of State to get all past presidents to join the peace effort with the MILF, as proof of the government’s good faith.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte said that while the proposal of Sen. Gregorio Honasan has yet to be raised to President Aquino, it should be clear that the Aquino administration’s good faith in dealing with the MILF has been never questioned.

“We are yet to discuss Senator Honasan’s suggestion with President Aquino. However, we have two clarifications we wish to make: first, the government’s good faith in dealing with the MILF has never been called into question,” Valte said.

She said that from the start, the Aquino administration had “repeatedly said good faith is instrumental in achieving the long and sustainable peace that we are aiming for.”

Valte added that “the pursuit of lawless elements is primarily a law- enforcement issue, which is entirely separate from the track taken by the peace process.”

Asked if Malacañang is open to the proposal or believes it is unnecessary, based on the clarifications that she has made, Valte said, “We need to discuss it first with the President. In the meantime, we continue to proceed on the two tracks.”

Valte said the idea has never been mentioned, or at the least floated to the President.

“We would really like to get the President’s sense first before we make any further comment,” Valte said.

Chief Peace Adviser Teresita Deles declined to comment on Honasan’s proposal as she has “not studied the details of Honasan’s proposal so it would be hard to comment.”

On seeking the views of former presidents on the peace effort with the MILF, Deles noted that former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada “have made their views known through media and we are taking them as well as other views into consideration.”

Ramos supports the peace process, while Estrada has always opted for an all-out war policy with the MILF, if they fail to meet a set deadline on concluding a peace pact with the government.

On the position taken by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that peace negotiations with the MILF be held in the Philippines and not abroad to prevent any foreign intervention in the process, Valte noted that Malaysia is “strictly a facilitator” of the negotiations with the MILF.

“We can assure that we will not allow foreign intervention on the substantive issues between the peace panels. We have also addressed the issue of venue with the Malaysian foreign ministry early on. Both parties have yet to discuss the substantive issues of the peace talks,” she said.