Estrada sacks top peace negotiator due to hostilities

President Estrada sacked his chief peace negotiator with Muslim rebels amid escalating hostilities in Mindanao, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora announced yesterday.

Zamora said Defense Undersecretary Orlando Soriano would be replaced by Lt. Gen. Edgardo Batenga, who used to head a military team in the government peace panel.

On the replacing of Soriano, Zamora said "it was felt that a different approach (to the peace talks) may be needed, and Gen. Batenga fitted the bill."

Shariff Jullabi, an MILF regional commander, said he believes Soriano was replaced for his "incompetence in handling the volatile situation in Mindanao."

"Soriano lacks the personality and control over military forces in the South," Jullabi added.

The military said at least 14 rebels have been killed in clashes, which erupted last Friday after MILF fighters attacked soldiers patrolling near a rebel camp in Carmen, North Cotabato.

Lt. Gen. Edgardo Espinosa, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command (Southcom), said he has already ordered the deployment of dozens of battle tanks and helicopter gunships to that town as rebels from other areas beefed up their fighters.

Intelligence reports said MILF rebels from Camp Abubakar, the rebels' largest camp, and Camp Bushra, a major training compound, went to assist their comrades holed up in Barangays Lanoon and Manili in Carmen.

Soriano said he did his best in solving the peace problem "in the way I believe is also best for the situation at hand."

"I did everything for the peace process," he added.

The former Southcom chief reportedly had been at odds with military commanders on how to deal with the secessionist problem.

Some officers feel that Soriano had become "soft" in dealing with the Muslims.

But Soriano said he prefers to solve the problem in a well-meaning manner where the solution would bring lasting peace in Mindanao.

"Others may see it as weakness," he said. "But what they do not understand about my approach is that as much as possible, I would want to minimize the loss of lives and, at the same time, prevent situations that would cause evacuation of thousands of villagers who are caught in the crossfire.

"My approach is more on finding solutions to the economic problems of the Bangsamoro people, which I believe could be traced as the root cause of the insurgency," he said.

A second round of formal talks between the MILF and the government is scheduled on Feb. 21. During the first round last month, the two sides agreed on a framework for the negotiations aimed at forging a political settlement to the MILF's secessionist struggle.

The MILF has been fighting for a separate Islamic state in Mindanao since 1978. It has vowed to pursue its struggle during the peace talks, despite strong opposition by the government.

Exploratory talks between the MILF and the government started in 1996. A year later, the two sides forged a ceasefire, but the truce is often violated by clashes.

In Patikul, Sulu, 14 rebels were reported killed while many others were believed wounded when fresh fighting broke out early yesterday morning between government troops and the Muslim fundamentalist group Abu Sayyaf. -- With Alvin Tarroza, Marichu Villanueva, wire reports