Erap wants lasting peace, not senseless war in south

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada had wanted lasting peace in Mindanao, not a war of attrition against the Muslim rebels, his spokeswoman Margaux Salcedo clarified yesterday.

Salcedo said Estrada, during his botched administration, went through the efforts to talk peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2000 before pursuing the all out war against the rebels in order to attain lasting peace in the region.

“What former President Joseph Estrada wants is lasting peace in Mindanao, not senseless war,” Salcedo said.

Salcedo made the statement in reaction to comments that Estrada wanted to wage war against the MILF once he returns to power.

Estrada has earlier declared that he will be running, in tandem with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, in the 2010 presidential elections.

“It was only after not one, not two, but several peace agreements were broken by the MILF themselves that the Estrada administration (was forced to) declared war,” Salcedo said.

Salcedo said the MILF had kidnapped Italian priest Luciano Benedetti in September 1998 and set fire to the municipal hall of Talayan in Maguindanao.

She said the MILF rebels then took over the Kauswagan municipal hall, bombed the Lady of Mediatrix boat in Ozamiz City and encroached on the Narciso Ramos Highway, all occurring in less than one year after Estrada became president.

Salcedo said these incidents prompted Estrada to put an end to the spate of violence by ordering the all out offensive against the MILF and capturing their main camp in Maguindanao in 2000.

“Records show that there were numerous efforts at negotiations but war had to be declared because the MILF kept violating the peace agreements and terrorizing even civilians,” Estrada told the crowd in Tondo, Manila last Wednesday when he declared his intention to seek reelection in the 2010 elections.

Salcedo said Estrada was merely explaining his platform to attain peace in Mindanao during that speech when he declared his presidential bid.

She said Estrada wanted to attain peace in Mindanao even if it means declaring an all out war against the MILF as a necessary condition for increased investments and economic development in the region.

“The beheading of marines, burning of children in schools, kidnapping of reporters and priests that continue to this day is nothing short of terrorism which should not be tolerated by any government. The MILF remains a great threat to peace and to the people of Mindanao. Insurgency and secessionist movements must be ended as a necessary means to achieving lasting peace and economic development,” Salcedo said.