Gov't, MILF pact won't solve Mindanao peace problems (Part 2)

MANILA, Philippines – If the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed a peace pact, it would only solve half of the problems in Mindanao, a peace advocate today said.

Ariel Hernandez, Balay Mindanao Foundation senior director for program and development and sustainability, said the other 50 percent will be demobilization, community and enterprise development and reconciliation (DCEDR).

Under this formula, he said that government would provide full support and protection to civilians in areas of conflicts.

"If they are not supported by the military, they are converted into community militias. They are accidental guerillas and can participate in waging war," Hernandez said during a forum this afternoon in Makati City.

He added that under the same scheme, not only MILF combatants would be disarmed but also state-organized militias.

"Demobilization is one of the most crucial step in securing a relative peace and stabilization stage after the peace talks," said Hernandez, a former Anak Mindanao partylist representative.

Unofficial records show that there are more than 60,000 Cafgus and Cvos, almost 29,000 of whom are based in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, military estimates that there are 14,000 MILF rebels and 5,000 New People's Army members.

For his part, Col. Charlie Galvez, chief of operations Division of the Armed Forces, said the military would not be demobilizing its deputized armed civilians in the country in the immediate future to secure villages where security forces are scarce.

"How can we protect a village where there's only one AFPP in the area? We will only demobilize if there's a final resolution of the conflict," Galvez said.

Today's peace forum was organized by the Eisenhower Fellows Association of the Philippines.