Solons seek review of MILF, government pact

Five senators are seeking to scrutinize the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to address the serious concerns raised over several of its provisions.

Senators Blas Ople, Gregorio Honasan, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Rodolfo Biazon and Teresa Aquino-Oreta have all said the contents of the new pact signed in Putrajaya, Malaysia on May 7 should be fully explained to the public. Three Senate committees – foreign relations chaired by Ople, peace, unification and reconciliation chaired by Honasan, and national defense and security chaired by Magsaysay will conduct a joint inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the agreement.

Ople, Magsaysay and Biazon, vice chairman of the national defense and security committee, introduced Resolution No. 298 calling for the inquiry. The senators said while the report was welcome as a possible harbinger for peace in Mindanao, some features of the agreement raised questions.

They noted the particular provision wherein the MILF will be given jurisdiction over some areas and communities, which were their former camps overran by the military. Another was the one requiring the government to pay damages and reparations for MILF property damaged or destroyed during AFP offensives.

The senators also referred to a provision authorizing the MILF to create an agency to administer public funds consisting of official development assistance from bilateral and international sources, "thus vesting it with the character of sovereign institutions." Honasan also questioned the reported exclusion of key government players from the peace negotiations with the MILF.

Honasan said he received information from Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on peace process, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. were not involved in the talks. Dureza was reportedly removed from the scene because of his reported opposition to the various compromise given by the government to the MILF.

Honasan said Guingona should also have been given the chance to share his "wisdom" on the matter aside from the fact that the agreement was signed in a foreign country.

The senators stressed the executive department should be transparent in dealing with the Muslim secessionists to avoid raising more questions than giving answers to the people. Honasan and Biazon averred the agreement could only be considered for ceasefire or a confidence building measure due to the lack of substance necessary for a peace pact.

"I am not confident this will bring confidence. How do we know if the Muslim communities to occupy the former MILF camps are really unarmed? Where will the military and the police place themselves in and out of these MILF communities once the agreement is implemented?" Honasan asked.