MILF to adhere to accords despite change in leadership

COTABATO CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) promised to comply with all low-level agreements it has forged with the government even if there is a sudden change in the national leadership.

Should there be a new President, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said the peace talks will certainly be stalled.

"We are sure that there will be a delay, maybe for a while, in the peace talks if there is a transition in the national leadership because whoever sits there in Malacañang will have to organize things first and formulate new socio-economic and political policies," Jaafar told Catholic radio station dxND in Kidapawan City today.

The peace talks between the MILF and the government were first started by former President Fidel Ramos on Jan. 7, 1997, but have been repeatedly stalled by nagging security problems in many flashpoint areas where state and rebel forces are scattered.

Jaafar said the MILF, as a revolutionary organization, will not be involved in the partisan bickerings between those supporting and opposing President Arroyo.

"Our only focus is the peaceful resolution of the Mindanao problem," he said.

Meanwhile, in different parts of the country, local executives expressed yesterday their continued support for President Arroyo despite the mounting calls for her resignation.

All five governors of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said they were still solidly behind Mrs. Arroyo.

The governors — Datu Andal Ampatuan of Maguindanao, Wahab Akbar of Basilan, Saidakul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi and Benjamin Loong of Sulu — made this stand in a meeting called by ARMM Speaker Isnaji Alvarez the other day.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Aleem Bashier Manalao failed to attend the meeting, but he sent word on his unconditional support for Mrs. Arroyo. The other day, he led a pro-Arroyo caravan participated in by some 50,000 people.

Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario Ali, chairman of the Muslim Mayors’ League, also reiterated his support for the embattled President.

Despite the anti-Arroyo rallies in Metro Manila, local officials in the Caraga region, comprised of the Agusan and Surigao provinces, are planning a huge pro-Arroyo rally on July 14.

The Caraga officials hatched the plan in yesterday’s hastily called meeting of the Regional Development Council where they also signed a one-page manifesto of support for Mrs. Arroyo.

Butuan Mayor Democrito Plaza II said he is willing to spend as much as P10 million for such rallies to ensure Mrs. Arroyo’s continued stay in power.

Also affirming their support in a manifesto were the governors, city and municipal mayors of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte. — With Ben Serrano and Richel Umel