Gov’t urged to focus on peace agreement

A peace talk between Philippine government and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is held at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Jan. 22, 2014. Philippine senators said on Wednesday, Jan. 29, that the government should not be distracted by fresh fighting in southern Philippines from forging a final peace agreement with Moro rebels. AP PHOTO/VINCENT THIAN

MANILA, Philippines—The government should not be distracted by fresh fighting in southern Philippines from forging a final peace agreement with Moro rebels, senators said on Wednesday.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Grace Poe said the outbreak of violence following the signing of the annex deactivating the Moro Islamic Liberation Front wasn’t surprising.

The annex on normalization, signed on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, and three other annexes make up the final peace agreement that the government and the MILF hoped to sign in two months.

“That should not distract the government, and this is our last chance to achieve peace. The fighting in the South at this point, to me, is not unexpected. You know there are groups there which are opposed to the peace process,” Drilon told reporters.

Poe, as well Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Juan Edgardo Angara and Nancy Binay, agreed with Drilon.

“It should not distract the government from focusing on peace in Mindanao. But definitely it’s a consideration. There are sectors that feel left out. Maybe, they’re trying to get our attention,” Angara said.

Aquino chimed in: “Peace at all cost is really the goal of the government and the MILF. The signing was a landmark event.”

Fighting between government forces and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which split from the mainstream MILF in 2008, has been raging for four days in Maguindanao province. So far, at least 37 rebel fatalities have been reported and 10,000 civilians displaced.

Drilon said the government should deal with the BIFF militarily.

Poe, for her part, said the government should present the annex to the people in Mindanao areas covered by the future Bangsamoro entity.

“Their voices should be heard more than the half being caused by the groups there. How do they really feel about it? I think that’s what we need to focus on. But it’s a difficult journey because it’s four decades,” she said.

“So everybody sides to assert their superiority in their groups but I think the government should really continue, I think they should take into consideration the opinion of the ordinary Filipinos living there, and also the local government, the Church, not just one particular faction,” she added.

Angara agreed, saying “military is never the final solution. Military conflict gives way to political solution.”