Aquino won’t fire Deles, Ferrer

Peace Adviser Teresita Quintos-Deles and chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer during the public hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines – Despite lawmakers questioning their loyalty, Peace Adviser Teresita Quintos-Deles and chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer will not be asked to vacate their posts, Malacañang said Thursday.

“Buo ang tiwala ng ating Pangulo sa mga bumubuo ng ating peace panel, kabilang na si Secretary Teresita Deles, ang Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, at si Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a briefing.

(The President has full confidence with the members of our peace panel, including Secretary Teresita Deles, who is the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.)

Coloma was reacting to Senator Francis Escudero’s suggestion to replace the government peace panel amid the probe on the bloody Mamasapano clash, which left 44 policemen, as well as 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and at least five civilians, dead.

He said both Deles and Ferrer have been able to perform their duty in accordance to President Benigno Aquino III’s directives.

On the other hand, Escudero on Thursday morning said the government peace panel is not able to do its job as its members seemingly side with the MILF.

He mentioned instances during the Senate probe on the Mamasapano when Ferrer seemed to have been helping MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, however, rejected such calls. He said the criticisms against Deles and Ferrer were “unwarranted.”