Arms into plowshares

The renewed terrorist attacks on soft targets in Iligan City have been condemned by the government and surprisingly by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as a handiwork of the devil.

We are astonished by the declaration of the MILF but we do not know whether we should be happy with this condemnation or relegate this as one of those meant to impress the community of nations and the Filipino people who have gone wary and weary over statements like this one.

Iligan City is right next to territories where Kumander Bravo have vast controls. We too are aware of the propensity of Bravo to sow terror. Where he moves the MILF has profess to have control. The question of course arises: Is the MILF still in control of the lawless forces of Bravo and those of Umbra Kato and Pangalian? We do not have answers to those questions. Moreover we are prepared to believe that the MILF leadership still hold sway to the forces of these three renegade commanders if they can rein them in. Condemnation remains to be empty rhetoric if this is not pursued with demonstrative action.

On the heels of the concerted efforts of the government and the MILF to revive the peace negotiations it will be to the best interest of peace that the two panels join hands to avert sneak attacks similar to what happened in Iligan.

But we cannot fault government to continue its campaign against the wayward MILF commanders for they have ceased to become revolutionaries instead turning themselves to be a dreaded force of terror.

Still we remain steadfast to our longings a condition where guns shall be turned into plowshares and bullets into seeds of peace.

— RINA DE JESUS, Cotabato City