The controversy surrounding the use of aliases by some of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s top officials and negotiators has blown up in the face of negotiators and representatives of the Philippine government.
Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer defended MILF negotiator Mohagher Iqbal’s use of aliases, citing the case of former Philippine President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who was born Jose Marcelo Ejercito.
The MILF negotiator has admitted to using “Iqbal” – his nickname, he acknowledged as much – in some bank accounts. He also said that the government has known his real name since 1979, even as he has asked that it not be revealed “for security purposes.”
All this time, Iqbal said, his identity has never been questioned. “It’s part of confidence-building.” When the BBL is passed, he promised, then everything would “normalize” and he would tell us all what his name is.
Ferrer insisted that one’s identity does not only refer to one’s name. It has to do with biometrics, fingerprints, the face. As far as she is concerned, the man calling himself Iqbal is the same person with which she and the government team has been negotiating peace in Mindanao.
The use of aliases is “irrelevant to the peace process,” insists Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda.”
Increasingly we wonder whether those who are supposed to negotiate on our behalf actually do so. We ask this because they seem to spend most of their time defending the other party instead of standing up for what the people think and believe.
For instance, the President created a peace council supposedly to study the provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. This is the Palace’s response to the clamor to slow down on its passage after the January 25 Mamasapano incident brought to fore questions on the sincerity of the MILF in pursuing peace.
The peace council, however, is composed of individuals, hand-picked by the President, who have not been known to be critical of the government’s dealing with the MILF. While the council has had only one meeting, we dare guess what it would come up with – something Mr. Aquino would be happy about, or at least not to be too miffed over.
In the end, we can only demand that our leaders and negotiators learn to draw the line and stand up to the MILF, or other counterparties for that matter, if need be. Now there is need for such standing up.