Solon opposes US role in peace talks

A former government peace negotiator has rejected proposals for the United States to broker peace negotiations with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Zambales Rep. Ruben Torres, who served as executive secretary to former President Fidel Ramos, also warned against unnecessarily "internationalizing" the problem with the MILF by allowing the US to intervene in the peace process.

"To me, this is still a domestic concern. I believe we can still solve it with two parties showing interest and good faith in discussing peace," Torres told ANC’s "Talkback" program late Monday.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, who has called for the US to play out the part of peace broker, however, disputed Torres’ argument.

In the same program, Pimentel said the Philippines has "long internationalized" the Mindanao problem since the administration of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Pimentel noted that the efforts of some member-countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) "did not bring about the just and lasting peace that we have all wished for."

"Judging from the kind of clout, military as well as economic, that the Americans now hold, I think this is the formula for at least creating the roadmap for peace," Pimentel said.

For his part, presidential adviser on strategic concerns Renato de Villa reminded that Malaysia should not be left out in its role in the peace talks as a peace broker.

Torres said he is actually against any third-party intervention in the peace process unless its role is "clearly defined."

He cited the case of the peace agreement forged with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) during the Ramos administration in September 1996. He said Indonesia and the so-called Committee of Six of the OIC were just offering "good auspices."