Peace is sweet. Muslim children flash the sign of peace as their parents pray inside the Taguig mosque.
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Gov’t plays MNLF card
1996 accord revived as road to peace...
BY VICTOR REYES
TWELVE years after the signing of the
1996 peace pact with the Moro National Liberation Front,
top security officials yesterday met with MNLF leaders
to discuss the full implementation of the agreement as a
way to attaining genuine peace in Mindanao.
Secretaries Ronaldo Puno of the
interior and Gilberto Teodoro of defense represented the
government in the meeting with MNLF chairman Muslimin
Sema, who is also the mayor of Cotabato City.
Officials said the talks focused on
the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the
members of the MNLF.
DEFENSE Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. yesterday said the
main base of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Shariff
Kabunsuan will be fair game if its two renegade commanders
are allowed to seek refuge in Camp Darapanan.
The military launched an offensive
against the groups of Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo on
August 18 for their attacks in after Iligan City and four
towns in Lanao del Norte, and the forcible occupation of
15 barangays in North Cotabato.
The Lanao attacks killed 28 civilians,
three soldiers and a policeman.
MALACAÑANG yesterday blamed the slowdown in
the country’s economic growth to external factors which it said
are beyond the control of the government.
The country’s economic growth slowed down to
4.6 percent in the second quarter from 8.3 percent a year ago.
The first semester growth also stood at 4.6
percent after the National Statistical Coordination Board
revised the first quarter growth from 5.2 percent to 4.7
percent.
