MILF to Esperon: Help revive stalled talks

MANILA, Philippines - Now that he has a new role as presidential peace process adviser, former Armed Forces chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr should help revive peace efforts between the government and secessionist rebels. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) issued the call to Esperon when he started Thursday his familiarization calls with key officials of the MILF and government panels. "(We appeal) to Sec Esperon to strongly help in realizing the calls and initiatives geared toward the immediate resumption of the stalled GRP–MILF talks in Malaysia," Toks Ebrahim, chairman of the MILF ceasefire committee, said in a statement posted Friday afternoon on the MILF website. Ebrahim also assured he will closely work together with Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Sealana, chairman of the government Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). Esperon formally takes over his new post June 16. The MILF said Esperon held separate calls Thursday with the MILF CCCH, Bangsamoro Development Agency, and with Datu Muslimin Sema, Mayor of Cotabato City and chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front. A dinner was arranged Thursday night between Esperon and the members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Cotabato City. In attendance at the dinner was IMT Head of Mission First Admiral Dato Pahlawan Amzah Bin Sulaiman. "My appointment by the president as the new OPAPP Secretary was signed on June 5, 2008. But I shall officially assume the office on June 16, 2008. I am just taking advantage of the week to start my work already by doing familiarization calls to the key players of the peace process in Mindanao," Esperon said. Esperon said he believed the conflict in Mindanao affects the entire progress of the country. He pointed out that he is one of the major framers and advocators of the existing government policy and paradigm that puts primacy on the peace process. ALso, he lauded the invaluable contribution of the government and MILF Ceasefire Committees and the Malaysia-led IMT in the overall peace process in Mindanao. "It is very hard to maintain peace and stability without the effective ceasefire mechanisms on the ground and the cooperation of the people," he said. - GMANews.TV