Aquino ‘ill-advised’ on Mindanao peace, says Escudero

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino’s peace team is not only giving him ‘ill-advise’ but is also doing a ‘disservice to the country, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Thursday.

“I think the whole peace process is misguided. I think the President is being ill-advised by his peace advisers, who are of the old school, purely theoretical and more often than not, lack training and exposure in the field,” Escudero said during a regular forum in the Senate.

Escudero, a staunch ally and close friend of the President, specifically pointed his gun at presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles.

“I think she’s (Deles) doing a disservice, her team is doing a disservice to the country — not only to our soldiers but to the country and the President as well,” he said as he expressed his disappointment at how the peace team handled the peace process with the Moro rebels in Mindanao.

Escudero said he could not understand why government negotiators seemed to be defending the rebels instead of defending and protecting the interest of the state.

He cited the statement of chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen that the October 17 clash between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that killed 19 soldiers in Basilan was an “isolated incident.”

“Babawiin niya makalipas ang ilang oras para sabihing ang ibig ko’ng sabihin ay isolated iyong lugar? Hindi naman tayo parang mga bata na ganon yung pagtrato n’ya sa pag-intindi natin sa mga binibitawang salita,” said the senator.

“Hindi ito panahon para mag-experiment dahil buhay ng mga sundalo ang nakataya. Sana seryosohin nila ang kanilang trabaho at huwag nilang isiping nagpa-practice lamang sila sa mga ganito ka seryosong usapin,” he said.

Escudero then gave his support for a Senate probe on the Basilan incident, saying the issue was far more important than other things that the chamber has been doing.

“Dahil dito actual na buhay ang nawawala sa kada araw na may kapalpakan na namang gagawin ang OPAPP,” he said, referring to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process being headed by Deles.