ARMED Forces chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano
yesterday said he does not see an outbreak of violence in
Mindanao because of snags in peace negotiations with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front.
Yano, who assumed the top AFP post Monday,
said cease-fire mechanisms remain in place, including the
GRP-MILF committee on the cessation of hostilities and the ad
hoc joint action group which is composed of government and MILF
representatives.
MILF leaders are accusing government of
insincerity and have hinted of a resumption of hostilities if
negotiations break down.
The secessionists have said government is
sitting on proposals on the substantive issue of ancestral
domain. They said government is interested only in preserving
cease-fire forged in 2003.
Implementation of the cease-fire is being
monitored by the International Monitoring Team composed of
representatives from Malaysia, Libya, Brunei, and Japan.
Malaysia, which is brokering the peace talks,
has started pulling out its contingent in the IMT. It earlier
said it is not renewing its mandate in the IMT because of a lack
of developments in the talks.
Yano said Malaysia has "not abandoned its
support as facilitator in the peace process."
Yano also said while "outside intervention"
is welcome, he said government and the MILF can resolve their
problems on their own.
President Arroyo, in Monday’s turnover
ceremony, said she was counting on Yano to help bring peace to
Mindanao,
Yano is from Zamboanga del Norte and is the first Mindanaoan
to head the Army and Armed Forces. – Victor Reyes
