Tuesday, May 01, 2007 MILF warns against militants' influence By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) warned government officials against protocol breach that is leading to the "erratic handling of the peace process."
The Moro secessionist group also advised government officials not to fall prey to the devious plan of some militant groups in or out of the MILF.
In a statement, deputy chair of the MILF committee on information Khaled Musa made the warning in the wake of disclosure by an unnamed Cabinet official imputing to the MILF demand that it did not make, referring to the 613 Moro-dominated barangays the government offered as early as April 2005.
Newspaper reports revealed last week that the MILF allegedly demanded to include the entire Sultan Kudarat province as part of the proposed "expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao."
This was, however, quickly denied by the MILF calling the claim as "ridiculous and uncalled for action of a partner in a peace process."
The MILF also clarified that it is not they who demanded for 613 Moro-dominated barangays in Mindanao but it was the initial offer of the government to the MILF during the 7th round of government-MILF Exploratory Talks at Port Dickson, Selangor, Malaysia on April 20, 2005.
Musa said the breach of protocol by the government is not doing any good to the peace process, saying the primary casualty is the hard-earned "trust and confidence" by negotiators of both Parties.
Musa suspects that this latest faux pas from the government has something to do with the May 14 elections. He appealed to the Arroyo administration to spare the MILF from their "game plan."
"Why make us the pawn in this dirty game of politics," Musa said.
He said this actuation of the government only means one thing -- it is not serious in the peace process.
The MILF suspects Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, a hardcore Opus Dei and ultra-pro-business, as one of those behind this latest controversy. Puno also served as DILG secretary under deposed President Joseph Estrada when the 2000 all-out war was waged against the MILF.
