Palace: No plan to convene Council of State

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said yesterday it did not have plans yet to convene the Council of State composed of former presidents to discuss the ongoing peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also told reporters in a phone interview that Malaysia was only providing the venue for the talks between the Philippine government and the MILF and not intervening in substantive issues.

Valte said they have not yet discussed the issue on the Council of State as suggested by Sen. Gregorio Honasan and stressed the government’s faith in dealing with the MILF had never been called into question.

Honasan said a better way to show the MILF the government’s good faith in talking peace with them could be done by inviting all surviving former presidents to join the peace effort.

The senator, who led several coup attempts to topple the government, said former Presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were not necessarily on the same page, but the administration could tap their insights and experiences in dealing with the rebel group.

“From the very beginning, we have repeatedly said that good faith is instrumental in achieving the long and sustainable peace that we are aiming for. Second, the pursuit of lawless elements is primarily a law enforcement issue, which is entirely separate from the track taken by the peace process,” Valte said.

She said the possibility of convening the Council of State had not been floated or even mentioned to the President at this time.

Honasan said the National Security Council only included several Cabinet members in aiding the President to form policies that might affect the MILF and suggested an enlarged panel might be called for.

“The President can convene a Council of State that could include the Chief Justice, the Senate President and the Speaker because definitely there will be constitutional, security and legislative issues that would be discussed,” he said.

Honasan said the government could not afford to deal with the MILF issue by itself “when clearly, all of us are affected.”

“I am not an apologist for the present administration but I think it is important that we show the MILF we operate in good faith. That despite the deaths of the 19 soldiers and the bloodshed in Zamboanga Sibugay, we continue with the peace talks. That would keep us on high moral and political ground,” he said.

As regards the statement of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that the peace talks must be held in the Philippines to avoid foreign intervention, Valte said there was nothing to fear about it.

“We would like to state as a matter of fact that Malaysia is strictly a facilitator in the government’s peace talks (with) the MILF,” Valte said.

“Both parties are yet to discuss the substantive issues on the peace talks,” she added.

Valte said the administration had chosen the path to peace rather than an all-out war because “peace has always been the better option but that does not foreclose the fact that we will continue the pursuit against lawless elements.”

Erap willing to join Council of State

Meanwhile, former President Joseph Estrada said he will join the Council of State should he be invited by Malacañang.

In a telephone interview, Estrada said he will not give “unsolicited advice” to President Aquino.

He said the respective experiences of the three former leaders would enable Aquino to weigh his options in properly dealing with the MILF.

“It was effective. We were able to overrun 46 camps of the MILF, including its biggest camp, Camp Abubakkar. MILF chairman Hashim Salamat also left for Malaysia after the all-out war of my administration,” Estrada said.

He blamed the Arroyo administration for not continuing his campaign against the MILF, which resulted in the present situation in Mindanao. – With Jose Rodel Clapano