Pichay urges MILF to show ‘sincerity’ in peace talks

A congressman from Mindanao called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday to denounce terrorism to show its sincerity for peace.

"It is not enough that the MILF says they are against terrorism," said Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay. "Its leaders should publicly condemn known terror groups like al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf."

Pichay, chairman of the House defense committee, said an MILF declaration against terrorism could match the government’s goodwill of lifting the warrants of arrest for chairman Hashim Salamat and other MILF leaders.

"The government has shown more than enough good faith," he said. "It is now up to MILF leaders to prove to the people that they are sincere and in control of their own ranks."

The government had also issued safe-conduct passes to Salamat and his men, he added.

Pichay said the people of Mindanao are looking forward to the signing of a "final" peace agreement in Malaysia between the government and the MILF.

At Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said President Arroyo has started implementing economic, social, educational and livelihood projects in Mindanao in preparation for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the MILF.

"We hope there would soon be peace in Mindanao so the government could work on the development of the region," he said.

Bunye said the government’s anti-poverty projects in Mindanao would not succeed if there is no peace in the region.

"Peace is very important in the development of the country," he said. "We could not improve if there are peace and order problems in many areas because investors would be afraid to come to our country."

New anti-poverty programs could diminish the number of poor people in Mindanao, he added.

Earlier, Jesus Dureza, chairman of the government peace panel, said they were finalizing documents before facing the MILF at the negotiating table.

Dureza said the documents have been submitted to the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (COCIS).

"It is more on the substantial agenda items, which is actually a draft of what could be an outline of the final peace agreement," he said.

Dureza said they still have to discuss the documents that would be presented to the MILF to convince the separatist rebels to sign a peace agreement.

Dureza said the "final" agreement would encompass a political settlement, ancestral domain and other substantial issues.

Two weeks ago, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said a team of American citizens versed on the secessionist problem in Mindanao will be sent to the country to help the Arroyo administration negotiate peace with the MILF.

Pimentel said the pledge was made by Ambassador Richard Solomon, US Institute of Peace (USIP) president, during a meeting in Washington.

"American citizens knowledgeable about the situation in Mindanao and the Moro rebellion will be tapped to do the job," he said.

"I urged that USIP act as soon as possible to jumpstart the peace talks so that further violence in Mindanao would be avoided."

However, Solomon did not give details on how they would go about their mission, he added.

Pimentel said Solomon told him the US government is determined to help forge a political settlement between the government and the MILF.

Salamat’s renunciation of terrorism was a big step to that direction, he added.

The Philippine and US governments have said that the US will only play a supporting role in the peace talks.