Rosales: Pull out AFP forces from Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales has urged the Aquino administration to pull out military forces from Mindanao to put an end to the decades-old conflict on the island.

“The world has to unlearn the language of violence. That is already enough,” Rosales said in an interview.

The prelate said continuing with the military option would only prompt more fighting instead of promoting peace. 

“That’s why that conflict has been dragging on for a long time and nothing is being resolved. (It) is because when one wins, the loser (inflicts) a more violent revenge,” Rosales said in Filipino. 

Over the weekend, the Armed Forces said it is resuming its operations against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels as the month-long Muslim fasting season of Ramadan ended last Friday. 

Members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines have called on the government and the MILF to resume peace talks. 

In August 2008, the peace talks collapsed due to the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain, prompting some MILF commanders to stage attacks on civilian communities. 

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator prior to the panel’s deactivation, said last Saturday they would announce this week the new members of their peace panel.

The MILF has decided to reactivate its peace panel following the completion of the government’s own peace panel. 

The government peace panel includes lawyer Marvic Leonen as chairman, and businessman Senen Bacani, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, politician Ramon Piang, and Dr. Hamid Barra as members.