'Don't use P5-M MILF grant issue to further inflame situation in Mindanao'

MANILA, Philippines - The government yesterday appealed to various sectors not to use the issue of the P5-million grant to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to further inflame the situation in Mindanao where military troops were conducting operations against criminal elements.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said the issue had been properly explained and thus should no longer be used to agitate and enrage the soldiers and the public.

Deles said the P5 million given by the Aquino administration to the MILF for its Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) was in compliance with an agreement entered into by the government for the peace talks and that it was handed over by government peace panel chairman Marvic Leonen to his counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal, during the second formal meeting of the parties in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Aug. 22.

Deles stressed the turnover of the money was publicly announced last Aug. 23.

Malacañang had been saying the amount was not given secretly and there was no intention to hide it.

Deles said the P5-million grant was a commitment made by the previous administration and was intended to fast track the establishment of the BLMI.

She said the BLMI was a non-stock, non-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that it was also receiving funding from other organizations and entities including the Japan International Cooperative Agency and The Asia Foundation.

“I hope the people now understand that the money was not given to the MILF per se. It was given to a duly-registered body formed in 2008 following an agreement between the government and the MILF,” Deles said.

Deles said the BLMI had been liquidating the funds given them by various donors.

“This has a good objective to have an institution that trains young Moro leaders to responsibly take over governance functions, participate in governance in their areas,” she said.

“In our view, it is good that there is training for peace and development rather than training for war. So we hope the people will understand the nature of the donation and it will not be used to fan the flames. We know that extreme emotions were aroused by what happened in Al-Barka,” Deles said, referring to the killing of the 19 soldiers in Basilan after a firefight with the MILF guerrillas.

Deles also said the BLMI was not being funded by the United States.

“The Asia Foundation is a foundation based in the US (it is) not government. And we know that Asia Foundation has a long history here. So I don’t know of (assistance) directly coming from the US government. But I would not know because we’re not a board member of the BLMI,” she said.

Valte, for her part, said the administration decided to push through with the grant after a careful review of its objectives.

“You have to review certain things...but it does not mean that just because it came from the previous administration, we just thumb it down and say we don’t want that. Of course, you review where (the funds) will go, the purpose and there were recommendations that the purpose is okay and worthy of attention,” Valte said.

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, on the other hand, said Malacañang should fully disclose the details of the P5-million grant to the MILF.

“There is need for Malacañang to clarify and explain the grey and nebulous areas shrouding the financial assistance to the MILF, which the President approved and ordered remitted to the MILF,” he said.

Lagman said Malacañang has to fully answer several questions before any accusations of treason or culpable violation of the Constitution are raised (against the President).

“If the donation or grant of P5 million was pursuant to an agreement during the formal exploratory talks in Malaysia in 2007 to help establish the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute, then Malacañang must produce the alleged agreement to validate the binding obligations of the contracting parties,” Lagman said.

Under what parameters and conditions-precedent is the Republic of the Philippines obligated to remit financial assistance to the MILF,” he asked.

Lagman said it is not even clear when, where and in what form (cash or check or other negotiable instrument) the money was transferred to the separatist movement. – With Jess Diaz