Ermita, 2 Cabinet men ‘spoilers’ of talks — MILF

09/06/2007

Manila --The Moro Islamic Libe-ration Front (MILF) has accused the Arroyo administration of being a “spoiler” of the peace negotiations, noting that three Cabinet officials are “steering the talks to an unknown direction,” saying like before the MILF is being tricked.

MILF secretariat chair-man Muhammad Ameen, in a statement posted on the group’s Web site, yesterday also doubted President Arroyo’s sincerity in signing a peace agreement before she steps down in 2010.

“There are many spoilers of the peace process espe-cially in Mindanao, but all those are secondary, and the main or worst spoilers are those in the govern-ment itself,” he noted.

identified the three Cabinet officials as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

Sometime in 2003, the MILF official said, Mrs. Arroyo, Ermita and representatives of Mindanao-based non-government organizations held a meeting in Malacañang to discuss the peace process.

“One of the questions asked was about the GRP-MILF peace negotiations. Instead of answering the question, she tossed this to Ermita, who quickly answered, without knowing that some of those present were sympathizers of the MILF, said: ‘Like the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), we will just run rings around the MILF,’” Ameen said.

The MILF and government peace panels had just returned from Malaysia after holding a special meeting on Aug. 27.

Malacañang, for its part, said the GRP-MILF peace talks may resume next month as Mrs. Arroyo and Malaysian Prime Minister Abudallah Badawi are set to discuss about the status of the negotiations with the Muslim group at the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Sydney, Australia this week.

Malaysia is acting as a third-party negotiator.

“They will be discussing the status of the talks, its resumption, which will most likely happen after Ramadan; and the extension of the mandate of the IMT,” Ermita, during a chance interview, said.

A Filipino diplomat also yesterday said Malaysia has expressed concern that the ongoing military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan will drive away more Filipino illegal migrants to Sabah.

The envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that once this happens, it would cause another consular problem for Manila and Kuala Lumpur.

“That’s their worry. If they run away because of the war, they will go to Sabah. That would be a big problem,” the source said.

The source added such concern was already conveyed by the Malaysian government through informal talks with Philippine authorities.

“I believe there were discussions on this informally on the top level,” the diplomat stressed.

Reports said at least 27,000 persons have been displaced from their homes because of the war.

Of those displaced, 2,938 families or 12,372 persons were from Sulu and 2,256 families or 14,709 families from Basilan.

The military is continuing operations against the Abu Sayyaf, which it blamed for the beheading and mutilation of 10 of 14 Marines killed in Basilan last July 10.

Manila and Kuala Lumpur nearly severed its diplomatic ties in 2003 after thousands of Filipinos were expelled from Sabah after Malaysia revised its immigration policy against illegal workers.

The Philippine government lodged a diplomatic protest against Malaysia as Filipino deportees accused Malaysian authorities of violating their human rights and subjecting them to torture.

Most of the undocumented Filipinos in Sabah hail from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi.

Sherwin C. Olaes and Michaela P. del Callar