Mindanao: Filipino government suspending anti-MILF offensive

“The President issued today a policy directive to advance stability and peace in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, intensify and sustain law enforcement measures, and provide a stable environment for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the MILF,” Ermita announced after a meeting with the government’s chief negotiators at the presidential palace.

Waiting for a reciprocal move by the MILF, the Filipino military will cease “punitive operations” against Muslim separatists, but will remain in a defence mode to counter any attack.

With military operations halted civilians can stop pouring into refuge camps. According to the latest figures their number stands at around 200,000.

“I’ve seen their deplorable condition and we hope that with this SOMO, there would be no more IDPs (internally displaced persons),” and that “they’ll be able to return to their places, and continue to go to school,” chief government negotiator Ambassador Rafael Seguis said.

Yesterday Mgr Orlando Quevedo, chairman of the Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), also intervened on the matter, making an appeal for “peace and our evacuees”.

“To all warring parties, as a religious leader I respect your causes, although I may not agree with your methods. But precisely because I am a religious leader I strongly condemn every violent act perpetrated that has no concern for the innocent,” Mgr Quevedo said, adding that “there is no human conflict that cannot be solved through a genuine honest dialogue of the heart”.