Peace talks with MILF in ‘gray area’ after Mamasapano clash –UP dean

The infamous Mamasapano clash has put the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a “gray area,” the dean of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies said Monday.

Professor Julkipli Wadi pointed out in an interview with GMA News TV's “News To Go” that the clash — described by authorities as a "misencounter" — occurred while the government and the MILF are discussing the "critical" decommissioning of MILF firearms, which is part of the peace agreement signed March last year.

"Nasa gray area pa ngayon kasi ang pinaka-critical phase din 'yan ay 'yung matapos 'yung decommissioning. Nagkataon halos nagkasabay 'yung discussion ng decommissioning sa Kuala Lumpur pati 'yung giyera diyan sa Mindanao," he said.



The clash has resulted in the deaths of 44 elite policemen at the hands of MILF combatants backed up by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The policemen, all members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), carried out the operation to serve the arrest warrants on two noted terrorists, one of them a Jemaah Islamiyah leader.

Less than a week after the clash, the details on decommissioning of MILF firearms were discussed between the Philippine government and the MILF  in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Wadi stressed that the peace talks should push through despite what happened in Mamasapano, which he said is a big challenge for both the government and the MILF.

"Kung hindi natin ipagpapatuloy, ano 'yung option natin? Given the fact na ang laki na ng investment ng pamahalaan simula noong 2010... Or else, tatapusin lang niya lang termino ni President Aquino na walang nangyayari sa pag-uusap. Ang problema dito, delikado, baka may mag-alsa diyan sa rank and file ng MILF," he said.

The dean also said that declaring an all-out war against Moro rebels because of the Mamasapano clash could only cause more harm than good.

"Nakasalalay dito hindi lang ang kagustuhan natin na magkaroon ng hustiya; nakasalalay din dito ang kinabukasan ng mga taga-Mindanao pati 'yung buong bansa. Back to zero tayo kung ganoon," he said.

Factors that hamper peace talks

During the interview, Wadi explained the different factors that may have slowed down the peace talks with different Muslim groups in Mindanao.

He said different administrations since 1975 have different ways in handling the peace talks, which does not amount to continuity.

"May six years lang ang isang administrasyon para gawin ang isang peace process. Ang problema, pagdating ng bagong administrasyon, panibagong style na naman ang approach diyan sa peace talks. At minsan matagal bago magkaroon ng rapport, confidence building measure 'yung gobyerno at 'yung Moro fronts," he explained.

Wadi also noted that derails in peace process have been the reason why breakaway Moro groups were formed.

For example, the BIFF only started in 2008 when the Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain was not signed.

"'Wag i-compartmentalize ang peace process. Gawin itong inclusive and comprehensive kung saan himukin talaga ang iba't ibang grupo na sumali sa peace talks kasi nga ang pangamba natin kung may maiiwang grupo, sila na naman ang magiging parang ugat ng panibagong problema," he said. —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News