Nabil Tan pinaglalaruan ng Palasyo

Lumalabas na pinaglaruan ng Malacañang si Deputy Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Nabil Tan nang itinalaga siyang officer-in-charge ng Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) noong October 12 nang mag-resign si former police chief Avelino Razon.

Kasi hindi man lang umabot ng dalawang linggo si Nabil sa kanyang bagong puwesto ay pinalitan agad siya ni Annabelle Abaya, na miyembro naman ng government peace panel na nakipag-usap sa mga communist rebels.

Marami ang nagtaka bakit biglang pinalitan si Nabil na kung tutuusin siya ay babad sa peace process dahil sa ilang taon ding niyang paninilbihan bilang miyembro ng government panel kahit pa noong pinapanday pa ang final peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) noong 1996.

Sinasabi nga na ang walong buwan na dapat mananatili si Nabil bilang OIC sa OPAPP ay naging dalawang linggo na lang.

Ang mga sumusunod ay isang ulat tungkol sa turn-over rites noong October 12 na kung saan sinabi niya na ang kanyang “first order of business is to buckle down to work and continue the government’s peace initiatives, “even on fast-track mode”.

He appealed to the various armed groups talking peace with the government.

“I hope we can be forthright and help each other (achieve peace). There is too much suffering of the people, particularly in Mindanao. My heart bleeds for the kids in the evacuation centers,” said Tan, recalling his visit to Talayan, Maguindanao, last month.

In his short remarks after accepting the OPAPP mantle from Razon, he noted the nearness of the presidential elections next year.

“We only have seven months to go. We will cover as much ground as we can to fulfill the commitment for the legacy of the President,” Tan said, referring to Mrs. Arroyo’s 10-Point Agenda towards 2010, No. 9 of which is the peace process.

He promptly stressed that the government’s work to achieve peace is based on “participation and consistency.”

“This can only happen with your support; I cannot accomplish it alone, so I ask for your support,” Tan said as he appealed for support and cooperation from the OPAPP hierarchy, staff and personnel.

“Remember our work in the peace process is a work of love and commitment,” Tan added.

Sinadya kong i-quote ang nasabing ulat na kung hindi ako nagkamali ay ginawa ng OPAPP media bureau upang ipakita ang lalim ng pagnanais ni Nabil na buong puso at determinasyon niyang gagampanan ang bagong katungkulan bilang OPAPP chief.

Ilang ulit akong nagtangkang kausapin si Nabil ngunit hindi pa rin niya ako kinakausap hanggang ngayon. Naiintindihan ko na ayaw din siguro muna niyang magsalita sa mga nangyayari sa loob ng OPAPP.

Napag-alaman ko na ang puwesto ni Razon ay unang in-offer kay former Labor Secretary Nieves Confessor at kasunod kay Cabinet Secretary Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello III na kapwa nila nag-turn down.

Si Nabil naman ang naging manok nina Razon, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita at maging ni Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza.

Sa kahulihulihan, hindi lang si Nabil Tan, na isang anak ng Mindanao, ang pinaglaruan ng Palasyo ngunit pati na rin ang buong peace process.