THE peace process with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would not be derailed despite the recent clash in Basilan between government forces and Muslim separatist guerrillas, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.
In a briefing at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, AFP spokesperson Col. Margareth Padilla said the incident in Sumisip, Basilan has not disrupted the government’s normalization program as outlined in a peace agreement with the rebel group.
“It is under investigation. But this whole peace process was not hampered with this incident. What we want to happen here is to resolve this issue that came at hand unexpectedly.” Padilla said.
“The gains were have achieved in this peace process will be sustained. As our chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. has said, let us give peace a chance,” she added.
The Normalization Program, a key component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, seeks to transform MILF combatants into peaceful, productive civilians while turning their communities into resilient and progressive areas.
On Jan. 22, a clash occurred when two armed groups, including alleged MILF members, attacked the Philippine Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion. The encounter left four dead, including two soldiers.
Mohagher Iqbal, chairperson of the MILF’s peace panel, surmised that the incident might have been caused by lack of coordination between the two sides. Brawner maintained however, that proper coordination was carried out with the MILF.
Padilla also noted that the clash was an isolated incident considering that no similar incidents have taken place over the past years. She said the AFP hopes that such incidents will not happen again with both sides adhering to all the provisions embodied in the normalization process.
Earlier, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr. called on the MILF to conduct its own probe into the Basilan encounter..
Galvez also condemned the attack as a “cowardly act perpetrated by lawless armed men” seeking to derail the peace process in Basilan.”
The AFP has also started to gather information to identify the perpetrators in the attack.