Saturday, July 05, 2008 Esperon: Ceasefire with MILF will hold without IMT By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE ceasefire agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government will remain despite the possible withdrawal of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) from Mindanao as its mandate is set to expire on August 31, 2008.
In an interview in Davao City, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and retired Armed Forces chief Hermogenes Esperon said the withdrawal of the Malaysian-led IMT forces in Mindanao will barely have an effect on the ceasefire agreement.
This is because, Esperon said, they still have the local monitoring forces under the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). He said most of the initial steps made to diffuse a tension in an area are done by the CCCH and not by IMT.
"Nauuna palagi yung mga CCCH natin bago papasok ang IMT, kaya I don't think that the ceasefire agreement would collapse if the IMT leaves," Esperon said. (The CCCH is already there ahead of the IMT.)
The MILF however said this is not the case, adding that it has lost its faith in and respect for the government. The Muslim secessionist group warned that bloodshed might happen again as a result of the IMT withdrawal.
The IMT mandate will expire on August 31 and without the government and the MILF meeting to renew the team's mandate, it will be forced to leave Mindanao.
Esperon said they hope to meet with the MILF before August 31. The MILF however said it is not meeting with the Philippine government solely for the reason of renewing the IMT mandate.
