Palace admits hand in bid to reunify 2 Moro fronts

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao admitted yesterday that Malacañang had a hand in efforts to reunify the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

According to Tiglao, the Palace did so through Dr. Farrouk Hussein who, he said, was given the "job title" of presidential assistant for Muslim Mindanao affairs precisely to work out the reunification of the two fronts.

"Right now, he (Hussein) does not even have an office (nor the funds). That title was given to him to help him encourage or move toward the merger of the MNLF and the MILF," he said.

The other day, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for military affairs, confirmed that their group and the MNLF will sign a reunification accord in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia within this month.

Jaafar said the move was not for tactical purposes but to allow the Mindanao peace process to fully take off.

"We welcome it. For one, it would help the peace process," said Tiglao, who reported that government negotiators led by Jesus Dureza are optimistic that a formal ceasefire agreement with the MILF could be concluded before President Arroyo visits Malaysia.

The military welcomes the MNLF-MILF reunification, but fears that the two fronts might use it to strengthen their ranks.

"Politically, this is a welcome development. If this pushes through, the government’s peace initiatives will be focused on only one group, the same way with economic development efforts. We support all confidence-building measures," said Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, Armed Forces’ spokesman.

Adan, however, added that the MNLF and MILF "should not be allowed to possess military capabilities which would enable them to challenge the AFP...I think (the government) peace panel should consider this."

In Cotabato City, organizers of the forthcoming 10th Mindanao Business Conference, to be participated in by foreign investors, see the forging of the reunification pact as a boost to Central Mindanao’s war-devastated economy.

"The business community is very optimistic that after the MNLF and the MILF reunite, what will follow is the forging of a peace agreement between the MILF and the government," said Antonio Santos, chairman of the Metro Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry.