Recovery of missing P170-million fund not a priority, says Deles

MANILA, Philippines – Efforts to recover the alleged P170-million missing funds from the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process (OPAPP) during the past administration may have to be deferred, Secretary Teresita Deles said.

Deles made the statement in reaction to the revelations of her predecessor Annabelle Abaya that there were P170 million unaccounted funds. Deles pointed out that recovering the missing funds is not the priority at this point but the efforts to achieve peace.

“It’s difficult considering that we have so much work to do. I’m more focused on setting up a good foundation, a just and sustainable peace in Mindanao. We hope if such a case had happened, people who are liable can receive sanctions,” she said.

Deles said it would be a waste of precious time and effort to recover the funds.

“We were not given records or documents. To retrieve them at this time is very difficult. That is the situation. Without any further leads it is very hard to go on,” Deles said.

“I can (make the initiative to recover the funds) but I have a lot more things to do. I have a staff who can do that, but in time maybe,” she added.

Deles, along with Dean Marvic Leonen of the University of the Philippines College of Law, held a briefing for reporters on the developments on the peace process late last week.

During the briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda announced the designation of Leonen as head of the GRP panel that would talk peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Leonen, for his part, said that under the administration of President Aquino, peace talks with the MILF would no longer be dragged on for years without providing a comprehensive, just and peaceful solution.

“We don’t want palliative measures. No more dribbling. We will hold dialogues in earnest with the little noise possible. I hope that this is the same good intention on the part of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” he said.

Leonen said he will remain as UP law dean, but would also be facilitating the government’s peace talks with the MILF.

“This is an opportunity for UP to be of public service,” he said.

Mr. Aquino appointed Leonen, who will be working closely with Deles under OPAPP. Other members of the peace panel will be announced soon, including the panel that will have to deal with the National Democratic Front (NDF) representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

“We are in the process of reconstituting the panel (for the NDF). We will set up our panel,” Deles said.

President Aquino directed the panel to review all the past agreements and recommend how the government can move forward, despite the constitutional limitations both parties would be dealing with.

“We will learn from the mistakes of the past by ensuring that consultations be done at the soonest and most appropriate time with all the constituencies of the government. This includes not only the people in Mindanao, but the LGUs (local government units) involved, the legislature and those who keep watch over the pronouncements of our Supreme Court,” Mr. Aquino said.

Leonen said it is part of the government’s job to be a peacemaker.

He expressed hopes that the entire government and its stakeholders would be on board, asking for the same time, understanding and patience.

“We are committed from learning from the past. I guess we are committed to finding the balance on the necessity of the negotiations and the policy of the state. In negotiations you can’t give deadlines. Mindanao peace is a national issue that involves all of us,” Leonen said. 

Leonen said he expects “respect and good faith” on their counterparts in the MILF.

He refused to call recalcitrants and breakaway group some rogue MILF rebels. “We need more facts to be able to call them that,” he said.

“During our watch we will be faithful to the Constitution. We will follow what the guidelines of the SC are,” he added.

Deles, for her part, said they are reviewing what happened exactly in the past years.

“We are initiating mechanisms for a continuous dialogue, and we will have continuous dialogues as we progress. This is something that in good faith we will sit on the table and grow with that,” Deles said.

“Without setting deadlines, we think we can do something within the first quarter. The panel will be starting next week,” she added.

Deles though refused to name which country would facilitate the peace talks with the MILF. “So many foreign parties have come in and we need to thresh this out,” she said.