Pres. Aquino's determination to continue peace talks lauded

Maguindanao Representative Bai Sandra Sema lauded President Benigno Aquino III for not reacting on the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members out of his emotion.

In a national address Wednesday night, President Aquino said the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) must continue despite the incident last Sunday in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“But the impact is still surmountable as long as all people in Maguindanao, regardless of religious and tribal identities, all government agencies and Moro groups will unite and continue to carry out diplomatic means of addressing local security issues,” Sema said.

“Let’s continue preserving the gains of the Mindanao peace process. We will emerge stronger as a peace-loving people,” the lawmaker added.

Sema and other local leaders in Maguindanao and North Cotabato called for sobriety amid the tension brought about by last Sunday's bloody clash between government forces and Moro rebels.
Mayor Ramon Piang of Upi town in Maguindanao, said the people of the province and nearby areas should wait for the outcome of the investigation before issuing comments about the incident.

“The situation on the ground could become complicated if people continue to spread unverified stories,” Piang said.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division chief, also appealed to the public to cease spreading photos and videos of the incident that will add fire to the already tense situation in Maguindanao.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu on Wednesday (Jan. 28) presided over a meeting of the provincial peace and order council to help ease the tension after the Special Action Force-Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters clash.

He said hundreds of families were displaced by the hostilities.

He said provincial relief workers are now attending to the needs of the evacuees along with the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM-HEART).

Mangudadatu said he and ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman are coordinating each other’s effort meant to foster normalcy in the conflict-affected Mamasapano municipality in the second district of Maguindanao.

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza also sympathized with the families of 44 members of the police’s elite SAF who perished in the incident.

“We have to face these most trying times with calmness and patience,” Mendoza said in a statement.

She said law enforcement by PNP elite force in North Cotabato should not be affected by the blood carnage in nearby Maguindanao province.

“People in North Cotabato are also in search of justice for the recent bombings that left several of our people dead and many others injured," she said, adding that the incident in Mamasapano was an offshoot of the search for two wanted bombers.

“Our peace-building efforts must not be affected by the Mamasapano incident,” Mendoza said. (PNA)

Palace remains focused on bigger picture -- winning over terrorism, achieving Peace in Mindanao
Malacanang remains committed to pursue the fight against terrorism and to push for lasting peace in Mindanao, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Hermnio Coloma said.

Coloma said they will not dwell on the issues being thrown against them, particularly the death of 44 members of the police’s Special Action Force (SAF).

“Ang pokus po natin ngayon, katulad ng aking ipinarating, ay ‘yung kahalagahan na maipagwagi natin at maisulong natin ‘yung paglaban sa terorismo at maipagpatuloy din ‘yung prosesong pangkapayapaan (Our focus now, like what I already said, is the importance of winning against terrorism and to continue the peace process,” he said.

Reports said the Philippine National Police (PNP) Alumni Association has called on its members to go on a five-day mass leave while mourning the death of SAF members, who were killed in a “misencouter” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao over the weekend.

Coloma said he respects the PNP Alumni’s decision although he stressed that he does not know if the group’s decision was made before or after President Benigno Aquino III delivered his statement over national television Wednesday night.

He stressed that whether or not the police force will heed the call of its alumi depends on the policemen.

”Nananalig kami na sila ay gagamit ng katuwiran at tamang pagninilay at nauunawaan nila ang kahalagahan ng kanilang paglilingkod sa bayan (We believe that they will really think about it and that they understand the importance of their service to the people), he said.

Coloma said it is understandable for people to feel bad about what happened to the SAF members but he stressed that the govenrment should remain focused on the bigger picture.

Relatively, the Makabayan-bloc in the House of Representatives said the death of SAF members may lead to another impeachment case against the President.

Coloma said whether the case will be filed or not depends on the lawmakers.

“Nasa kanila pong pagpapasya ‘yon kung sila ay nais ding magsulong ng sarili nilang agenda (It’s upon their decision if they want to push their own agenda),” he said.

Also, reports said former President Fidel V. Ramos urged Aquino to have a definite stance on the issue of felled SAF members.

Coloma said they respect Ramos’ ideas noting that the former President is among the leaders who is pushing for the peace talks in Mindanao.

Meawhile, the bodies of 42 SAF members who were killed in the Maguindanao clash arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Thursday morning (Jan. 29).

Coloma said the President was not able to go to the air base because he has earlier commitments.

He, however, said that the President will lead the necrological service for the fallen heroes at Camp Bagong Diwa on Friday, January 30, which has been declared as National Day of Mourning.

In a statement, Coloma said members of the Cabinet and other government officials will attend the mass along with the families of the slain policemen and their colleagues.

The entire nation is requested to offer prayers and all public institutions are directed to lower the Philippine flag in half-mast tomorrow,” he added. (PNA)