MILF: No money, just peace

DAVAO CITY — Keep the peace and save money.

This, in effect, is what the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) believes it can contribute to the country’s fiscal crisis.

While the MILF does not have millions of pesos to contribute to the government, front spokesman Eid Kabalu said that "with peace sustained on the ground, there would be (lesser) expenses."

He added: "All the government has to do is sustain the peace on the ground and it is really something very big already, and it can help the economy."

Kabalu said the 12,500-strong MILF would help fast-track the peace process, which was hampered anew by skirmishes between military and Moro rebel forces in Central Mindanao last weekend.

The Mindanao conflict has cost the government a hefty sum not only in terms of funding for military operations but also for the rehabilitation of strike-torn villages.

The government and the MILF are still awaiting word from Malaysia for the next round of exploratory talks.