Gov’t working out timetable for peace pact with MILF

Malacañang said yesterday the government is working out a "timetable" with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to come to a final, lasting peace agreement in Mindanao.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye Jr. cited the hir Alonto, were killed.

Eid Kabalu, a spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, acknowledged that the rebels located the target for the military.

"In this operation against the gang of Tahir Alonto, even Eid Kabalu admits that the MILF assisted the armed forces at least in locating the area," Ermita told reporters. "The fact alone ... is a very good confidence building (measure)."

However, Bunye stopped short of saying in his official statement yesterday if the Palace shares in the optimism that a final peace agreement between the government and the MILF could be forged within the year.

Bunye clarified that the timetable does not mean a "deadline" was being imposed on either side. He said Afable himself is looking forward to a peace agreement with the MILF within the year, based on his own assessment of the progress of the peace talks.

"I believe the chief negotiator has mentioned a time frame and that is within the year," he said.

Bunye stressed that the timetable of the peace talks must have prior consultation with the Malaysian government, third-party facilitator of the talks that will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

"Among other things, it is very important that we coordinate with the Malaysian government because they are the host and we will seriously consider the date that they will be proposing," he said.

The resumption of the formal peace talks in Kuala Lumpur had been repeatedly postponed for one reason or another, including the change of leadership in the Malaysian government late last year.

Bunye said the Philippine government and the MILF cannot just conduct peace talks on their own without including Malaysia in the negotiations.

"Right from the start, we have sought the assistance of Malaysia and I think it will be best if the third party facilitator is active in all phases of the negotiations," he said. "I believe we have to go through the normal process, exploratory talks where the agenda and other details are to be worked out first."