Esperon: Search on for new panel to talk peace with MILF

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday said that he is searching for a new panel that would pursue peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Esperon, who led the 15th anniversary celebration of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), said he already has an initial list of personalities who may compose the new peace panel.

“I now have an initial list of probable members of the (government) peace panel. Prominent personalities especially from Mindanao, but we shall also include personalities that are based here in Manila,” Esperon said.

“I want to say the recomposition of the peace panel is not our focus right now. Our main concern is providing security to our countrymen especially in Mindanao, in the conflict-affected areas. While we pursue the components of the peace process, it has become even more important for us to build the constituency for peace, meaning, the more peace advocates we have, the better for all of us,” Esperon said. “Once we get to that kind of environment, we can consider forming the new panel.”

“We have to get the cooperation of the responsible leaders (of the MILF). We have officially relayed the matter to the Malaysian facilitator. But rest assured we also have channels which we can use so that we can be in touch with the MILF,” Esperon said.

Esperon said establishing contact with the MILF, without going through Malaysia, is an option open to the government.

“After all, they (MILF) are our countrymen. The peace facilitator was availed of for the formal talks. But we have instructions from the President that aside from the peace facilitator, we can indeed engage directly with the MILF. We have done exactly that. As to whether this will help solve the problem of Commanders Kato and Bravo, that we will have to see yet,” Esperon said, adding that the idea of getting another country as facilitator has not been entertained.

“The matter of changing facilitator would have to be discussed with due respect and deference to the current facilitator. Let us remember that we invited them. We can use both channels, but in formal negotiations, as we have done in formal talks with the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), we have availed of the facilitation of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) led by a committee through Indonesia. We have seen how useful it is,” Esperon said.

Meantime, President Arroyo has told her Malaysian counterpart that her government will not resume peace talks with Muslim guerrillas “with a gun pointed at our head” and pressed for the surrender of three rebel commanders blamed for a deadly rampage.

In a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Mrs. Arroyo blamed the three rebel commanders who attacked and pillaged predominantly Christian communities for the breakdown in the talks.

She said the negotiations will resume when peace has returned to the Philippines’ troubled south and the rebel group has regained control over its men.

“We will not negotiate with a gun pointed at our head,” she told Abdullah in her letter, which was delivered by Esperon last Friday.

Esperon gave copies of the letter to reporters during a news conference.

Mrs. Arroyo said “violent elements” within the rebel group had decided to take the law into their own hands.

“Our confidence was shaken by the wanton violence” that resulted, she said.

Abdullah expressed concern over recent deadly clashes that have displaced large numbers of people in the southern Philippines, but understood the reason for a massive government offensive to capture the three rebel commanders, Esperon said. – With John Unson, Paolo Romero, AP