COTABATO CITY -- Moro Islamic Liberation Front chieftain Salamat Hashim dismissed yesterday as "preposterous and nonsense" insinuations that he has conceded to the forging soon of a peace pact with the government in exchange for P2-billion worth of infrastructure projects in MILF-controlled territories.
Salamat said what he had agreed with government emissaries who visited his jungle hideout at Camp Abubakar was the possible setting up of "peace zones" in areas where costly government projects are being built and where different agencies could safely implement socio-economic projects.
"The Bangsamoro problem is a situation that cannot be quantified by money and only a lasting solution, one acceptable to the Bangsamoro people, can solve it," said Salamat, reacting to broadcast and published reports that he had accepted the deal.
Muhaquer Icbal, MILF's information officer, said that while the MILF would cooperate with the government in implementing socio-economic projects in many critical areas, the effort is just to enhance the cordiality of the peace talks.
"It does not mean that if the chairman has agreed to the creation of peace zones where the government can implement infrastructure projects, he would sign outright a peace agreement with the latter," Icbal said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the slew of infrastructure and other development projects now being implemented by the government in the heartland of Muslim insurgency would boost the peace talks and leave no more reason for rebels to pursue armed struggle.
Pimentel, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, said the development projects would be accelerated with President Estrada's approval of the immediate release of P225 million for projects in the seven legislative districts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Some of these projects are being undertaken in areas around MILF camps.
The release was approved by the President when Pimentel accompanied a delegation of ARMM regional assemblymen, led by Speaker Kabilan Sema, to Malacañang on March 8.
However, the senator from Mindanao stressed that the allocation of these funds should not be misconstrued as a price in exchange for giving up the armed rebellion. Pimentel said he emphasized this to Salamat when he visited Camp Abubakar in April 1999.
"We frown on the idea that we are working for peace and giving money in return. I talked with Chairman Salamat and there's no price tag in our search for peace and autonomy for the people of Mindanao," Pimentel said. -- With Efren Danao