GPH peace panel questioned anew for acting like MILF’s mouthpiece

A CONGRESSMAN has expressed doubt if the government peace panel is really representing the country in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

During the House of Representatives investigation into the Mamasapano debacle Wednesday, Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat noted that the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process in its report on the debacle only listed the names of MILF casualties.

“In the report, the one list of victims [showed only] the victims [from] the MILF [side]. You did not even list down the victims of the Special Action Force (SAF) or the civilian victims… May I ask the panel, do you represent the MILF or the Philippine panel?” Lobregat asked.

Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said their report is not meant to be a comprehensive one about the debacle that claimed the lives of 44 SAF commandos, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians.

“It was not intended to be a comprehensive report of the whole incident… but only with reference to matter of the breakdown of the ceasefire that took place last Jan. 25,” Ferrer said, referring to the botched antiterror raid that was marred by poor coordination between the SAF and the military though the mission succeeded in killing its target, international terrorist Marwan.

Peace panel adviser Teresita Deles meanwhile advised the lawmakers to put in writing Lobregat’s complaint.

The chamber is investigating the debacle that threatened the passage of the Bangsamoro bill due to the involvement of the MILF in the attack. The bill seeks to implement the government peace deal with the MILF for a politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity. AC