Peace panel: No formula to appease Misuari, MNLF

MANILA, Philippines - The official who leads the peace talks with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari said the government has wooed him for years, but nothing seemed to appease him.

Denying that the government has neglected Misuari, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita "Ging" Deles on Wednesday said that officials have tried to accommodate his demands but efforts remained futile.

"I deny that we've not given full recognition of Nur Misuari and the MNLF," Deles said in press briefing Wednesday.

"What's being put forward that we've ignored MNLF is a willful misunderstanding and misrepresentation of what's the reality. A lot of work had been done even before this administration came in and we continue to work with this process," she added.

What Misuari exactly wants puzzles Deles who condemned the violence that sparked in Zamboanga between the rebel troops and the military.

"What will make Misuari happy? What does he want?" Deles asked.

Deles observed that MNLF's pattern would be to turn down each proposal posed to them.

"Throughout the three years, when we come out with a formula and an acceptable language, (Misuari) would go out and say, 'No, we could not sign it," she added.

While the government has not revoked that 1996 peace agreement with the group, Deles said Malacañang will work on completing the six-year review tripartite review process of the deal's final implementation.

"The government is committed to engage with the MNLF to settle the problems ... We were saying it's time to complete the six-year review process. We want this done by the parties together, that's why there's a meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia next week," Deles said.

She referred to tripartite talks between the government, MNLF and Indonesian officials as third-party facilitator starting next week to review the provisions of the 1996 deal.

Deles said they are expecting the presence of Misuari, who reportedly requested her office to facilitate his travel papers to Indonesia.

The rebel leader's faction attacked five coastal villages in Zamboanga and reportedly took around 150 civilians as hostages.

The hostilities were reportedly based on Misuari's allegations that government has neglected the group in the peace process, as it partnered with the MNLF breakaway group Moro Islamic Liberation Front on the creation of a Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.

Still, Deles claimed that she was not surprised that the violence broke out as it is part of the process.

"We should not be surprised of incidences like these at the end of the peace process. These are agreements that introduce changes and some people would not like that," the secretary said.

"What's important is how we stand up to it. We stand by the peace process and we will complete the peace process for the Philippines," Deles added.