Source: Inquirer Online News

COTABATO CITY, Philippines -– The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has accused three Cabinet officials of steering the peace process into an unknown direction.

Muhammad Ameen, chair of the MILF secretariat, said he doubts if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is really determined to leave behind a legacy of peace in Mindanao by signing an agreement with the MILF aimed at addressing the Bangsamoro problem.

Ameen said there are many interest groups in and out of Malacañang who are out to make the Mindanao peace process a failure.

He cited what he called the "hawks" in the Arroyo Cabinet -- Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

"They set the unknown directions of the GRP-MILF peace process," Ameen said in a statement.

Peace talks between government the MILF have been at an impasse for about a year now over the issue of ancestral domain.

Recently, the Malaysian government, which has been acting as third party facilitator, called on the government to resume the stalled peace talks.

Ameen recalled that in 2003, peace advocates in Mindanao had an audience with Arroyo in Malacañang.

During the meeting, Ameen said, Arroyo called for Ermita to sit beside her.

When the peace advocates asked for an update on peace talks with the MILF, Arroyo asked Ermita to answer the question.

"Gaya rin ng MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front], paikutin lang natin ang MILF [As in the case of the MNLF, we'll just deceive the MILF]," Ameen said one of the peace advocates at the meeting quoted Ermita as saying.

Ameen did not say what the roles of Puno and Gonzales were in the peace process.

But he said what transpired at the Malacañang meeting made him doubt if Arroyo is determined to ink a peace accord with the MILF within the last three years of her term.

A member of the MILF peace panel also said they are puzzled over Malacañang’s delaying the peace process.

Government and MILF negotiators met in Malaysia on August 27 to discuss not the issue of ancestral domain to be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) but the extension of services of international peace observers in Mindanao.

Neither was the resumption of talks discussed.

Both side did, however, agree to continue searching for common ground to resume the talks.

Over the weekend, MILF chief Al haj Murad Ebrahim told the Muslims in the southern Philippines to be patient and remain hardworking.

"As our struggle enters its 35th year, the more we persevere and strive further to sure that we consolidate the MILF and to confront any obstacle along the route to victory," Murad told a group of Muslim religious preachers.

"If you live to see the fruit of your sacrifices, that is victory, but if you die, that is another victory," he said.