February 10, 2001, The Philippine Star, Dureza Bello named to government peace panel GMA, by Marichu Villanueva,

February 10, 2001, The Philippine Star, Dureza Bello named to government peace panel GMA, by Marichu Villanueva,  

President Arroyo named yesterday the members of the government panels that would talk peace with communist and Muslim rebels. Mrs. Arroyo told reporters at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City that her administration has officially ended the "all-out war" policy of ousted President Joseph Estrada against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"We go now into peace mode," the President said. "Even the AFP support us here. They would have wanted peace. They go to war because they want to endorse peace. But now there is an understanding between the two sides to pursue peace." Mrs. Arroyo said former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III will head a five-man panel for peace talks with the National Democratic Front, with the following members: lawyer Rene Sarmiento, Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza, Riza Hontiveros-Baraquiel, and lawyer Jose Luis Gascon.

Jesus Dureza, presidential assistant for Eastern Mindanao, will lead negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, along with Lanao del Sur Gov. Mahid Mutilan, Muslimin Sena, Irene Santiago, and former Mindanao State University president Emily Marohomsar, she added.

However, Mrs. Arroyo told Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes the government will not talk peace with the Abu Sayyaf, the Muslim fundamentalist group which kidnapped 21 mostly foreign tourists from the Sipadan island resort off Sabah, Malaysia on Easter Sunday last year.

"Even as we normalized the situation, even as we reconstruct the peace process, I know you will agree with me that when it comes to terrorists in your division, there will be no compromise. We will follow the rules of engagement for terrorists. We do not romanticize with terrorists in Central Mindanao or any other parts of the Philippines," the President said.  

Two factions of the Abu Sayyaf are still holding Roland Ullah, a Filipino, the last of the 21 Sipadan hostages also suspected of being a mole; and Jeffrey Schilling, an American Muslim convert who walked into the kidnappers' lair last year. Mrs. Arroyo flew to Cagayan de Oro City yesterday, her first visit to Mindanao since assuming the presidency last Jan. 20 following the ouster of Estrada.

Mrs. Arroyo was accompanied by Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who are both from Mindanao. During ceremonies at Camp Evangelista, Mrs. Arroyo pinned the medal of merit on at least seven soldiers who were wounded in clashes with the MILF.  

The President said: "I have instructed the Presidential Management Staff to work for institutionalizing the financial assistance and tax exemptions to soldiers and their families particularly those affected by the armed conflict."- With reports from Edith Rega lado, Lino dela Cruz