Palaro in peril sans peace pact

No ceasefire, no Palaro.

This was the opinion aired by Bangsa Moro Youth Movement chairman Macapanton Jihad Abbas III yesterday after a bloody MILF attack in Zamboanga del Norte last Sunday threatened to disrupt the ongoing peace talks between the government and the armed rebel group.

The second round of the exploratory peace talks is scheduled this weekend in Kuala Lumpur. But the attack on Siocon town, which left at least 27 dead, 24 wounded and 50 missing, might halt the negotiations – temporarily or permanently.

The cancellation of the peace talks may also put the staging of the Palarong Pambansa on May 18-25 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, in peril.

"If there is no ceasefire, then how can you hold a momentous event like the Palaro?" said Abbas during the PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion where he was joined by his secretary-general Driaza Lininding and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain.

"First of all, we will have problems with the participants – especially those from outside Mindanao. Kami sa Mindanao sanay na kami sa mga giyera-giyera. Pero ‘yung mga outsiders, will they come? And if they don’t come, paano mo itutuloy ang Palaro?" he added.

The Palaro, expected to lure close to 5,000 elementary and high school athletes from all over the country, was originally scheduled May 4-11 but was called off due to continuous fighting between government and rebel groups in areas in and around Tubod.

Some of the participating regions, in fact, have decided against competing, with the parents fearing for the safety of their children.

"Peace is the No. 1 issue. Nandiyan na lahat ng agreements (on the peace talks). They just have to implement it. Kahit na sa Lanao area lang nila i-implement ang peace talks kung ayaw nila sa ibang areas like Davao, Maguindanao, Cotabato, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi," said Abbas.

With or without the ceasefire, Buhain firmly believes that the Palaro would go on smoothly, trouble-free in Tubod as he continued to rely on the assurances of the MILF, through its spokesperson Eid Kabalu and one of its field commanders (Kumander Robot) that they would not even try to disrupt the games.

"Sobra-sobra na (assurances). Magiging successful na ang Palarong Pambansa na ito," said Buhain.

The PSC chair doesn’t even feel the need for a contingency measure like the evacuation of the thousands of participants in case trouble breaks out during the Palaro.

"Actually, sa tingin ko hindi na mangyayari. I don’t think that will ever happen," he added.