Press Release
August 18, 2009

SUSPEND TALKS IF MILF FAILS TO DISOWN ROGUE ELEMENTS: CHIZ

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday said that the government should not resume peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) if it does not disown rogue elements who aided the Abu Sayyaf in the Basilan clashes.

"I challenge the MILF to disown these rogue elements and if they don't or fail to do so, then talks should be suspended. Whether disowned or not, government should enforce the law and run after those who killed and mutilated our troops," he said.

Escudero, chair of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said that the latest incident shows that the MILF command may not have full control of its units or are exercising nominal leadership over forces in areas not within their original jurisdiction.

"What we may have here are armed groups who have allied themselves with the MILF because of the prospect of being covered by a peace agreement that will grant them territory and immunity for their crimes," he said.

Escudero pointed out that rogue MILF units involved in the attacks last year on civilian communities in Central Mindanao remain at large and continue to defy the law.

He said that the government should demand an accounting of MILF units and their current location so that it can move against armed bands without any constraint.

"We must distinguish between those who sincerely want peace and the pretenders in their midst. We must be as relentless in pursing peace as in hunting down those responsible for the barbaric acts on our fallen heroes," Escudero said.

He also urged government to make sure that all stakeholders are represented in the negotiations so any settlement will not suffer from the infirmities of the botched agreement on ancestral domain.

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