Cayetano slams PH peace panel for not questioning MILF moves in Mamasapano probe

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano faulted the Philippine government peace panel on Thursday for not even questioning or challenging the position taken by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to send its investigation report on the Mamasapano clash to Malaysia, the third country mediator in the peace talks.

“I blame the government for not doing anything about it. In negotiations, of course the MILF will fight for what it wants. But why is the government just saying yes? Why is the peace panel just saying yes?” Cayetano told reporters.

He also said that government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel Ferrer and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles should have been the ones asking the questions that he had raised about the MILF.

“Where is the government, where is the peace panel? Aren’t my questions the ones that Secretary Deles should be asking? Aren’t my questions ones that Chairman Ferrer should ask the MILF? But there’s nothing. They’re quiet,” he said.

But he also continued to criticize the MILF, particularly its response to his privilege speech where he expounded on his contention that the group was harboring terrorists and demanded that it disarm its fighters before the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law could be approved.

He noted that he had been branded “anti-MILF,” but the points he raised had no response.

“Why don’t they directly answer my challenge and conditions?” he said.

He asked if it was so difficult for the MILF to produce the personal effects and cellphones of the slain Special Action Force members, or to explain why the group could not even control Mamasapano.

“If they can’t handle a municipality, how will they handle the whole of Bangsamoro?” he said.

He further asked why the MILF could not answer allegations that their own men were hiding Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino associate Basit Usman.

“I had a lot of direct questions, regardless if I’m pro or anti MILF. Why don’t they want to answer these?” he said.

Cayetano has contended that the MILF is not a trustworthy partner for the peace process, and has withdrawn his co-authorship of the BBL following the Mamasapano incident.

He also said on Thursday, that despite opposing the Malacanang-backed BBL, he would not leave the administration coalition.

His political party, the Nacionalista Party, remains an ally of the administration.

According to him, the disagreement is just on the BBL. NP members oppose the present form of the bill and want the government to take a firmer stand in its peace talks with the MILF.

“There are several issues, especially good governance, where we are allies,” he said.

But if he was asked to leave the coalition because of his position on the BBL, he would do so.

“If they will take that against me, I will bear the consequences, but I would not stop talking about it,” he said.

He also said the NP was not affected by the President’s tirade against critics who offer no solution to problems.

“We are allies who offer solutions,” he said.