Marcos: Why not include BIFF in peace talks?

MANILA, Philippines – The government should consider forging peace with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to stop these rebels from waging war, Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.

“Ano ba talaga ang involvement ng BIFF at MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front)? What is their relationship? Ngayon, kung sinasabi na hindi ito aksyon ng BIFF, hindi kaya dapat kelangan isama natin sa peace process yung BIFF?” Marcos said, still reacting to the bloody encounter in Maguindanao.

Initial reports said the BIFF was responsible in the Maguindanao clash where 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) were reportedly killed.

“Kung nanggigiyera pa sa atin ang BIFF at sinasabi naman ng MILF na hindi sila magkasama ay dapat siguro ang BIFF ay kausap na din natin dahil kahit na may peace tayo sa MNLF, MILF, wala pa tayong peace sa BIFF, wala pa tayong peace sa Abu Sayyaf, maraming armadong grupo, sila ba ay kasama din sa prosesong ito?” Marcos asked.

“So kung wala sila sa prosesong ito, we will not achieve the true and lasting peace that all of us are dreaming for…Kung sila pa ang nanggigiyera sa atin e kelangang kausapin sila para matigil ang kanilang paglaban sa mga awtoridad,” he further said.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on local government that hears the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), also slammed what seemed to be a gag order imposed on officials involved in the peace talks between the government and the MILF.

“Ang mahirap kasi nagkaroon ng gag order ang gobyerno. Hindi ko na makausap si chairman Iqbal. Hindi ko makausap ang PNP commanders. Hindi sumasagot ng tawag so there is I think, although hindi siguro formal pero there seems to be a gag order and that doesn’t help because what we need to know here are facts,” he said.

Iqbal is Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF chief negotiator in peace talks with the government.

“Kailangan naming malaman ang talagang katotohanan, kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari? Yun ang unang hakbang bago natin maayos ang BBL nang hindi na mangyari ito para nga may tunay na kapayapaan ang Mindanao,” the senator added.