MANILA, Philippines - While it took many by surprise, President Aquino’s unannounced meeting with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader in Japan was generally welcomed.
House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said he was heartened by Aquino’s gesture of reaching out to MILF leader Al Haj Murad Ibrahim.
“That meeting would greatly boost chances of an understanding with the MILF and help make peace in Mindanao, especially in conflict areas,” Datumanong told The STAR.
“It’s a good thing that there was a personal touch. I hope that this would lead to a good peace agreement soon,” he said.
Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas said he trusts that Aquino has laid down terms that are advantageous to the majority of Filipinos.
“I expect that he (Aquino) put forward a position that would be beneficial for all Filipinos so we can finally attain peace,” he said.
He, however, said Aquino and the MILF leadership must disclose the details of the meeting, saying the peace process is an issue that cannot be decided by two people alone.
“We are all stakeholders in the peace process. We must not be kept in the dark, especially if there are some secret understanding or commitments,” Cagas said.
Former peace adviser and government negotiator with the MILF Jesus Dureza said the secret meeting reminded him of the late President Corazon Aquino’s own meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari in 1987.
“For her son, President Noynoy to take a similar bold step for peace is also historic. From where I sit, I consider this meeting an effort to fast-track the peace process. We congratulate both the government and the MILF in taking the unconventional route just so an early settlement can be mutually forged,” Dureza said in a text message.
“A word of caution though. The road to peace is not easy. There are still many facets that must be attended to and resolved. The top-level meeting must be followed through vigorously and relentlessly until a final pact is signed, sealed and implemented. We know the rigors of peace making and peace building,” he said.
He said after the two leaders have taken “bold initiatives for peace, we the citizens must all unite and provide support to sustain these gains.”
Analysts said the secret meeting in Japan could be part of an imaginative but risky strategy to move the peace talks forward after initial delays and rebels’ suspicion that the government was insincere in negotiating.
“Such a meeting would entail significant political risk for President Aquino and could hand ammunition to his opponents if the administration was subsequently unable to reach a deal,” the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report.
“We don’t have any information about that meeting. If there is indeed one, the ARMM leadership is hoping both parties can achieve something tangible that would hasten the attainment of lasting peace and sustainable development in Southern Mindanao,” said Ali Macabalang, information director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“Let’s pray for a fruitful outcome of that meeting if indeed there is such meeting,” said Malang.
“We’ll just have to wait and see. We in the MNLF want peace in Mindanao and we shall support all peaceful means of putting that in place,” said Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema, chairman of the most dominant of four factions in the MNLF.
In Zamboanga City, local government leaders reminded the Aquino administration to stick to the framework of the Constitution in its negotiation with MILF.
“We hope the peace talks to continue with the result that is based on the framework of the Constitution,” Mayor Celso Lobregat said.
“The Supreme Court struck down the MOA-AD, and that should not be used as basis for the peace negotiation because it was unconstitutional,” Lobregat said. “We have to be vigilant.”
North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, for her part, called for transparency.
“It is good that they met. At least it is contrary to speculations that the President does not care for the peace process in Mindanao because he did not include the matter in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA),” Mendoza said.
“Just be transparent. Do away with malicious insinuations,” Mendoza added.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte also welcomed the Japan meeting.
“It is a positive development and we welcome such moves by the President,” Duterte said.
“I am sure the President would make the necessary announcement about it soon,” Duterte said.
Former chief of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the meeting was a positive development.
He also said that there was nothing wrong with Japan’s hosting of the meeting.
“Peace can be negotiated anywhere. Remember also that Japan has led the economic development team and JICA (Japan International Coordinating Agency) has many projects already in conflict areas,” he said.
But House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Aquino should fully explain to the public his “excursion” to Tokyo.
“The President’s excursion to Japan more than meets the eye. Much explaining has to be done,” he said in a statement.
“What was achieved? What are the commitments? Could not the President send an emissary instead of him going there?” he asked.
He said the President’s secret trip to Tokyo “violates his own policy on transparency.”
“The country is not the personal fiefdom of President Aquino. Any presidential action which has a bearing on national interest and national security must be transparent and previously discussed with, among others, the Cabinet and the National Security Council,” he said.
He urged the Chief Executive to also reveal the security arrangements for his trip.
“The people have a stake in his security. How was he secured? How extensive were the preparations? Was there a security breach?” he said. Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero, Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado, Roel Pareño, John Unson