New peace talks key to Lanao Palaro

Unless the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) returns to the negotiating table and heed President Arroyo’s order to stop retaliatory attacks, the fate of the twice-postponed Palarong Pambansa will remain uncertain in Lanao del Norte.

PSC chairman Eric Buhain said yesterday that everything depends on the June 1 deadline set by President Arroyo for the MILF rebels to end "retaliatory attacks" on civilians and cut links with terror groups.

"June 1 is the key," said Buhain referring to the Chief Executive’s ultimatum. "Now if both the government and the MILF agree to sit on the negotiating table on June 1, the possibility of holding the Palarong Pambansa in June is very probable."

The problem, however, lies on the opening of classes on June 16 where participants, majority of whom have graduated this summer, are expected to go back to their respective schools.

But Buhain said he has already written Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Edilberto de Jesus a memo asking him to waive the age requirement on participants who have graduated this year to allow them to participate in the games.

Buhain has also asked De Jesus to excuse the participants who will be joining the event.

"We’ve already written Secretary de Jesus and it’s now up to them if they will excuse our students who will be joining the Palaro," he said.

The Palaro was originally scheduled May 4-11 but was postponed to another date, May 18-25, due to spate of MILF attacks on civilians in the towns Maigo and Kolambugan.