Palace reiterates peace pact with MNLF not terminated

MANILA, Philippines – The peace accord between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is very much intact, according to Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

Lacierda reiterated this on Monday, September 9, as clashes between the military and MNLF rebels were ongoing in Zamboanga City.

MNLF spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanilla said they wanted to declare independence.

“Fontanilla and they (MNLF) were insinuating that the GPH terminated the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. That is not true,” Lacierda said. “In fact, there is an ongoing tripartite review process of the implementation of the GPH-MNLF peace pact through the facilitation of the Organization of Islamic Conference.”

Lacierda said there is in fact a meeting scheduled for next week regarding the review of the agreement’s implementation.

“What we’ve been told is that they have been spreading disinformation that [its been] terminated. That’s why there’s some uneasiness on the ground [and] that’s why we had to assure them,” he said.

Lacierda said a representative from Indonesia met with Fontanilla, who represented MNLF founder and chairman Nur Misuari, last Friday, September 6, about the review process. This is proof “there is no truth” to rumors that the government terminated the pact.

He also called the violence a “sudden and unexpected move… not in accordance with what has been agreed upon with Indonesia.”

A few hours earlier, MNLF said it wanted the Indonesia, in its capacity as the third-party facilitator of the tripartite review, to intervene in the ongoing encounter in Zamboanga City.

As of 11 pm Monday, at least 6 were reported killed (one policeman, one Navy personnel, and 4 civilians) while 24 were wounded, including 3 cops, 7 soldiers, and 4 civilians, according to a statement issued by Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco. Another 800 civilians have evacuated.

The MNLF has expressed opposition to the current peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a breakaway group of the MNLF. They want to re-open talks with the government over what they said were unimplemented aspects of the 1996 peace agreement.

Peace process goes on

Lacierda said the ongoing peace talks with the MILF will continue.

READ: Gov’t, MILF gear up for ‘final’ round of talks

“We are going to negotiate with MILF. This will not affect the peace process. We believe that the peace process that we have entered into with the MILF is a peace process for all of Muslim Mindanao not just the MI[LF],” he said.

Lacierda emphasized the new peace process would not leave anyone behind, including the MNLF that has complained of being left out of the talks.

“In fact, a lot of ex-MNLFs were consulted when this peace process was being negotiated. There were consultations on the ground by then chief negotiator Marvic Leonen and consultations continue to be done on the ground by the current peace panel,” he said.

For now, Lacierda said the government is primarily concerned about protecting the civilian population but refused to disclose operational details on the process. – Natashya Gutierrez/Rappler.com