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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Government pursues peace efforts amid offensives
MANILA -- Peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would finally push through on August 22 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf and the manhunt for those behind the July 10 beheading of 10 Marines, meanwhile, continue in Sulu and Basilan.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Lawmakers, during a full National Security Council (NSC) meeting in Malacañang Tuesday, supported President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's directive to pursue the offensives and at the same time proceed with the peace talks brokered by Malaysia.
"There is a broad support for the President's affirmation of the prime importance of preserving the ceasefire and advancing the peace process, which resumes on August 22 in Malaysia," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement issued after the NSC meeting.
Bunye said the NSC also concluded that more intensive development efforts and affirmative action for Muslim communities are needed to settle the conflict in Mindanao.
"The NSC (also) supported the plan for local peace assemblies through which the National Government shall support peace initiatives of local chief executives. NSC acknowledged the highly successful experience of Bohol province," he said.
Senators Francis Pangilinan and Richard Gordon said the NSC also agreed that those who attacked, beheaded, and mutilated some members of the Marines in Basilan last July 10 should be made to answer for their crimes.
They also raised concerns that the punitive actions might deteriorate into an all-out war.
Arroyo convened the NSC around 10 a.m. Those who attended include Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., Senators Pangilinan, Gordon, Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan and Aquilino Pimentel Jr., and Representatives Ronaldo Zamora, Raul del Mar and Simeon Datumanong.
Secretaries Arturo Brion of labor, Raul Gonzalez Sr. of justice, Ronaldo Puno of interior and local government, Alberto Romulo of foreign affairs, Gilbert
Teodoro of defense, and Margarito Teves of finance were also present, along with Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and PNP Chief Oscar Calderon.
Basilan and Sulu, which are both heavily affected by the punitive actions, were represented in the NSC by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan and Representative Yusop Jikiri and Basilan Governor Jum Jainuddin Akbar and Representative Wahab Akbar.
During the meeting, the defense department and the Armed Forces gave a "cogent and comprehensive briefing" on the developments in Basilan and Sulu assuring lawmakers that despite the deployment of ample forces in the area, they are "undertaking limited punitive and police operations."
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) also reported that they have started evacuating affected communities and provided evacuees with relief supplies, which are pre-positioned near evacuation centers.
Arroyo said the NSC aims to both brief the concerned sectors about the government actions and at the same time consult them "on our unrelenting efforts to forge lasting peace with justice, harmony and security for all Mindanaoans and the rest of the Filipino nation."
The President assured that such efforts include the protection of civilians caught in battle zones, the strict adherence to the ceasefire parameters, and the harnessing of all sectors, including international support for peace and development initiatives.
The measures also include the fast tracking of projects and programs for infrastructure, health, housing, livelihood, farming and fisheries upgrading and Muslim education and culture in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
"It is imperative that we all work together without selfish politicking to preserve the peace we have achieved so far and to advance it toward a final agreement and the massive development that will follow," she added.
Puno, in an ambush interview, said they have asked local government officials not to meddle in the ongoing military and police operations and instead concentrate on assisting the affected civilians.
Senators Angara and Gordon said social amelioration in the form of infrastructure and developmental projects, livelihood programs, and assistance like housing should be sustained while the offensives and the peace efforts are pursued.
Senators Villar and Pangilinan said they were satisfied that a comprehensive approach is being implemented and agreed that the military needs all the support including resources that it could get.
Pangilinan is hoping that the offensives would be concluded soon as an estimated P1 billion, which could be better spent on housing, education, livelihood, is spent every month while the military operation continues.
Teodoro assured lawmakers that the government is focused on preserving peace talks with both the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) even if there had been no let-up in military offensives in Sulu and Basilan.
He said while more than 6,000 troops have already been deployed in Western Mindanao, the government is taking steps to prevent the breakdown of peace talks. These include dialogues with peace panel members of the MILF, MNLF, International Monitoring Team, and with local government officials.
Esperon said they are prepared to send more troops in Mindanao, even pulling out units in Luzon and Visayas if needed, assuring that such action would not weaken the campaign against insurgency.
He said the presence of the troops act as an effective deterrent against the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless elements.
In Sulu alone, the Armed Forces already deployed four Marine battalions, three infantry battalions, one special forces group, one scout ranger unit, and a component of the light reaction battalion in addition to the Naval and Air Force components and a new battalion from Panay.
He said there are about 8,000 individuals from Basilan and Sulu who have been affected by the offensives, but they are being assisted by the government and other concerned groups including the US. Esperon said the US has been helping in the humanitarian aspect and even in the technical capability although the Armed Forces has not specifically asked for it.
Armed Forces public information officer Bartolome Bacarro said in a separate forum that government forces intend to encircle the Abu Sayyaf and rogue MILF members. "The intent is to limit their movement," Bacarro told reporters.
Bacarro said Task Force Comet commander Ruben Rafael has already ordered the pouring of additional forces into the area to augment the operating troops from the Army's 33rd Infantry Battalion.
On the contentious ancestral domain issue, Esperon said he is not aware of the President's proposal for a pilot regime.
Pangilinan said the ancestral domain issue remains a contentious topic but he believes that the government is making headway in the issue.
Pimentel, for his part, believes that the Constitution must first be amended to pave the way for a solution to the matter.
Retired general Rodolfo Garcia, government chief negotiator with the MILF, said government and the MILF reached "some sort of consensus" on the ancestral domain issue.
Garcia however believes that Arroyo's pitch for the pilot implementation of an ancestral domain regime in Mindanao would help boost the ongoing peace talks. (JMR/VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (August 15, 2007 issue)
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