WEAPONS OF TERROR
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Gen. Narciso Abaya, Armed Forces chief of staff, present to President Arroyo the explosives recovered by military forces in Maguindanao. The troops recovered the explosives in the course of the campaign against “terrorists embedded” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. NONOY LACZA

Did govt 'stupidly' agree to return 7 MILF camps?

By MANUEL CAYON
TODAY Reporter

DAVAO CITY - Sen. Rodolfo Biazon dared Malacañang to tell the public the details of its new agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for peace talks to resume.

He was worried about the reported agreement reached in Malaysia for the resumption of peace negotiations, because rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu had claimed over national television that the government had agreed to return seven captured camps to them.

“We need to hear the government speak and explain about that agreement because we want to know if Kabalu was telling the truth, and if so, why the government had become so stupid,” he said Thursday.

On Biazon’s concern about the contents of the new agreement forged in Kuala Lumpur, Kabalu had said Wednesday night that top-level backdoor negotiations -- presidential adviser on special concerns Norberto Gonzales was the Manila representative to these talks -- have resulted in an agreement to resume the talks after the government agreed to three things:

• return seven camps to the MILF,

• quash warrants of arrests against top-ranking rebel leaders,

• funnel the development funds for conflict-affected areas to the MILF.

In Malacañang, however, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye denied that Gonzales had signed anything, but added that “maybe there was an agreement. . . in principle to start the talks as soon as possible.”

This seeming “miscommunication” appears to be a fact if seen against President Arroyo’s statement Thursday that the rebels must first disclose the origin and intended target of a large caché of plastic explosives seized last weekend, and that the rebels’ reply would determine government response to their peace overtures.

“We are preparing for the start of peace talks but this does not mean we are being tactically blind to events,” said the President in a statement before inspecting the explosives haul -- topped by 450 kilos of C-4.

“Whether the peace process moves forward or lags behind is largely in the hands of the MILF,” said Mrs. Arroyo.

As this developed, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes expressed doubts over the sincerity of Muslim separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to pursue the stalled peace negotiations Thursday.

Reyes said in Camp Aguinaldo where he and armed forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya presented to President Arroyo at least 450 kilos of C4 explosives seized from MILF guerillas last Saturday in Maguindanao.

“Number one, it (seizure of C4) shows that the MILF had been and still is trying to pursue terrorist activities, there is no doubt about that given this physical evidence,” said Reyes.

Reyes said the military establishment will continue its efforts to contain terrorism in the South as part of its mandate to protect not only the people but also the communities.

“The government will continue to after the terrorists whether they are MILF, Abu Sayyaf, lawless elements . . . The government will not renege on its ability, its mandate to protect people and the communities,” he said.

Speaking by telephone from the United States Thursday, Chairman of the government peace panel Eduardo Ermita slammed Kabalu by recalling that in the past, Kabalu had been admonished by the Front for saying many things whose details he has no knowledge about. “You must remember that their spokesman Kabalu was reminded not to talk too much because he does not know the details.”

Ermita was referring to Kabalu’s statements that Salamat will not attend the peace talks except at the end if the negotiations are successful.

Ermita said it is highly probable “that there is a gap between Salamat and Kabalu.”

He is in the US on instructions of the President to brief the Washington-based Institute for Peace, headed by former Ambassador Richard Solomon, on how the peace talks is shaping up.

He said there is no definite time to return to the negotiating table but that he was elated by reports that Salamat’s office had indicated he would be present at the formal opening of the talks.

Ermita made it clear that while the US will have “a wider role” in the peace process, Malaysia remains the major coordinator in the talks with the MILF. The “wider role” appears to be Washington providing financial assistance.

Bunye said the US had offered to come into the talks if requested and they are willing to come in the manner requested by the Philippines. With B. Fernandez, AP, R. Mercene, J. Vicente