Death of MILF’s Mimbantas won’t derail talks – military

MANILA, Philippines – The military is optimistic that the peace talks will go on smoothly despite the death of Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) vice chairman for military affairs Thursday night.

“Despite of the death of Abduz Azis Mimbantas we are still confident and very optimistic that the ongoing agreement will move on, and will continue…,” military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. told reporters in a press briefing Friday.

“I’ll be speaking in terms…of military structures, every head or commander’s assistant or executive officer [would take over] so I don’t think there will be a vacuum [despite this unfortunate development],” he said when asked if security will be affected with Mimbantas’ death.

He added that they will continue to honor and support the peace initiatives of the government with the MILF.

MILF Chairman for political affairs Ghadazali Jaafar confirmed Friday that Mimbantas died of stroke Thursday night.