MILF wants peace but only on its own terms

The government panel in the peace process should be revamped to include persons from Mindanao who know how to effectively deal with the Moro people. Incumbent members of the panel representing the government are largely ignorant of the ways of the Moros.

President Aquino and many of his advisers, including members of the peace panel, have not lived long enough or have never lived in Mindanao at all to fully understand how to effectively deal with the Moros and other tribes there. That is why wrong decisions are constantly being made by them.

In the case of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), it wants peace only on its own terms. It will never accept what the government wants, especially now that our leaders have shown signs of weakness.

No matter how often the civilian hierarchy in government would deny it, it is apparent that there exists a significant number of military and police officers—as well as rank and file—who are demoralized because of the buck-passing being displayed by persons in authority with respect to owning responsibility in the conduct of military and police operations.

The civilian population is outraged and wants swift justice for the policemen who died in the recent Mamasapano massacre.

The perpetrators—identified as members of the MILF, in connivance with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)—are literally getting away with murder because the government could not immediately respond to the situation.

Many are wondering how President Aquino would have acted if some of his family members and relatives were among the victims of the series of attacks and ambuscades perpetrated by the MILF and BIFF elements.

If the situation happened to be the reverse, these armed groups would most likely strike back at the first opportunity.

Clearly, the only party that is seriously pursuing the peace process is the government. The other side is simply going through the motions to be able to tie the hands of government as the former continues to participate in the charade.

This has been going on for many years already and the government does not seem to realize it.

Christian residents in Mindanao know that majority of the Moros and other ethnic tribes in Mindanao and Sulu understand only one thing: When in conflict with their perceived enemies, they shoot first and ask questions or explain later.

—MELCHOR AMADO JR.,

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