MANILA, Philippines The recent attacks by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on civilian communities in Mindanao had prompted President Arroyo to call for a special expanded meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the meeting, scheduled on Friday, aims to forge a common agenda on the serious conflict in Mindanao and review closely the ongoing peace negotiations with the MILF.
"I think the situation is serious enough for the President to call for a multi-secetoral, and a wide-ranging group of leaders who can advise on this particular problem that is currently afflicting Mindanao," Dureza said in a news briefing in Malacañang.
Invited for the meeting organized by Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio were members of both houses of Congress, Cabinet officials, local executives and sectoral representatives.
A consensus on the present Mindanao situation will be prioritized in the meeting, Dureza said.
"We feel that Mindanao is something that should be viewed even beyond political considerations. We will invite everybody because this should be a concern for all," he added.
Dureza added that all levels are expected to come up with recommended actions and resolutions on the present situation in Mindanao.
"It can be a congressional action, it can be an action by the executive, and it can be an action by the stakeholders, by the sectoral (representatives). This would be a big group coming together and discussing collectively now the situation in Mindanao," Dureza said.
Asked if Ledac will tackle the issue on the controversial ancestral domain deal, Dureza replied that the meeting "can take up any issue that will be necessary for a good discussion of the issues."
Dureza said the peace negotiations with the MILF will also be subjected to a close review after the rebels launched attacks in Lanao del Norte and Sarangani Monday.
"The MILF are saying that there are elements that are outside their control. And there are also some people and some sectors who say that this is just also a way for them to show how they feel about the current situation in the MOA and the peace process. We cannot make that determination as yet. Therefore we are looking at all of these and there will be a review, but ultimately on the MOA, we will just have to wait for the ruling of the Supreme Court," Dureza said.
The presidential spokesperson also reacted to reports saying that the attacks in Mindanao were an emotional reaction of secessionist rebels because of the stalled signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain deal.
"If you're emotional about it, why do you have to attack villages, who do you have to kill people, why do you have to destroy buildings, why do you have to cut-up some ears of some guys?" he said.
He also said that the government is firm with its policy to forge a lasting peace in Mindanao, and that the administration will do everything to reach a peaceful settlement with the secessionist organization.
Dureza added that the ongoing peace process covers a wide area of work including inculcating the culture of peace, developing the area, and strengthening institutions.
He further gave details on how the government will explain its current actions in Mindanao to the international community.
"We always conduct briefings through the Department of Foreign Affairs with the diplomatic corps, especially those involved heavily in Mindanao. We had one before when we had the North Cotabato incident which was developing at the time," he said.
Dureza also cited that the armed conflict in Lanao del Norte and Sarangani will create a long-term negative effect in Mindanao's business sector.
"That is the biggest long term effect of the Lanao incident because attacks like those in Lanao, reverberate to the whole world and investors are always shaken even by sensitivity of whether their money would be safe or not," he said.
He added that the government has to recoup the situation immediately so the people in Mindanao can start rebuilding the region.
Dureza clarified that Charter change and the President's federalism bid will not be discussed. "I don't think (those) will be discussed. This will be about the current Mindanao situation in relation to all related matters that would be discussed on the issue," he said.
Dureza added that there are no plans to convene another Ledac meeting after the one scheduled on Friday. "We just had this scheduled for Friday. How will this develop will depend on consensus that will be arrived at," he said. - GMANews.TV