ALLIANCE NEWS

August 12, 2010

US-Aquino Regime Dismisses MILF Threats as “Posturings”

Los Angeles- The Alliance News of the AJLPP noted today that in apparent bid to dismiss or ignore the warnings of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) warning that it is preparing for war in case the peace talks do not resume soon, the US-Aquino spokesman called the warnings “posturing.”

“I guess it’s just posturing on their part,” said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. “We get positive information from them that they are also eager to pursue the peace process.

“Maybe they are worried that the peace process wouldn’t push through,” Lacierda said of the remarks attributed to MILF chair Ebrahim Murad.

Talks to Resume after Ramadan

The Palace spokesperson said that he expected that talks would resume after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Lacierda, however, said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would look into Murad’s claim that some of the MILF weapons came from the military.

He said that Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, the AFP spokesperson, had told him that he had no information on Murad’s statement but would look into it.

Asked if Murad’s allegations would affect the government’s commitment to the peace process, Lacierda said: “No, it will not.”

Increased US Aid

The Alliance News reported that the AFP has made several bombing runs against MILF lairs and is ready to receive precision strike missiles from the US worth $ 18 million.

This is besides the promised $ 434 million of economic aid to the US Aquino regime. The US 7th Fleet is becoming active again in the Pacific after POTUS Obama has declared “ the Pacific as US national interest.”

Lacierda also addressed the MILF’s stand that it did not want to start from scratch when both the two sides return to the negotiating table.

He said the government panel was reviewing agreements already reached but that these did not include the deal on ancestral domain in 2008 which sparked widespread opposition and renewed fighting and which was later declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

No Talks On Ancestral Domain

“There are other agreements in the peace process that have been concluded even before. All of those would be studied,” Lacierda said.

“So we are not going to start from zero. That is clear and we want to convey to the MILF that what had already been agreed upon would be studied and from there, the peace process will continue,” he added. Earlier agreements included those on relief and rehabilitation, ceasefire and the presence of an international monitoring team.

The ceasefire between the US-Arroyo regime and the MILF broke down in 2008 that engulfed Mindanao into a war. That precisely after the regime took back the MOA that deals heavily on ancestral domain.

And if the US-Aquino regime said it will study but will not discuss the matter for the peace talks will go nowhere. The AJLPP sources concluded.