October 15, 2000, ABS-CBN, Gov't eyes peace pact with MILF,

October 15, 2000, ABS-CBN, Gov't eyes peace pact with MILF,

MALACAÑANG, (ABS-CBN) - The armed conflicts in Mindanao may have been clouded by the recent jueteng scandal in the nation's capital, but Malacañang said Sunday that it will continue its thrust to promote peace in the area, vowing to stick with its approach in dealing with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre said the lines of communication remain open between the government and the MILF leadership.

"Gusto natin magkaroon ng formal negotiation para sa peace pact (We remain interested in holding formal negotiations for a peace pact)," Aguirre said.

He said the lines of communication remain open between the government panel chaired by Ret. Gen. Edgardo Batenga and the MILF hierarchy.

At the same time, Aguirre said Congress continues to craft a law seeking to expand the coverage of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

"Dapat ipagpatuloy natin ang peace agreement implementation para magkaroon ng substantive autonomy doon at ang batas para ma-expand ang ARMM ginagawa ng Senado (We must push forward with the peace agreement implementation. We want a substantive autonomy, and the Senate is working on the proposed law)," Aguirre said.

"May open communication ang government panel at ang MILF leadership pero wala pang formal negotiation (Although there is no formal negotiation, the lines of communication between the government and the MILF remain open)," he said.

The MILF broke off from formal negotiations earlier this year after government troops overran Camp Abubakar, its main base of operations.

It also decommissioned its peace panel, whose members were already given safe conduct passes.

Despite the MILF's actions, the government remained open to peace talks, although President Estrada made it clear that he will not tolerate abuses by the MILF.

The President said he will not allow the MILF to carve their own space out of the country's territory.

Yet, he said he still wants a peace agreement with the MILF to achieve a voluntary and true peace, instead of one enforced by arms.