Ignore rumors, MILF told

OZAMIZ CITY, Philippines—Government peace negotiators urged representatives of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to disregard rumors and preconceptions as the two sides began a new round of exploratory talks in Malaysia on Monday.

Chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen dismissed rumors that the Aquino administration was planning to “supplant” the current negotiations with a parallel process that would water down the participation of international mediators in the quest to end the rebellion in southern Philippines.

“Those are simply rumors,” said Leonen.

“I am disappointed the MILF thinks we are staging schemes when we are already here in Kuala Lumpur for the scheduled talks,” Leonen said in a statement.

Earlier, the MILF expressed apprehension, based on the supposed revelation of a former government executive, that the Aquino administration aimed to institute “something like direct talks” which would dilute the participation of the international community in the talks and “offer the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao [as] a sort-of transition government…” Ryan D. Rosauro, Inquirer Mindanao; AFP