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With the current ceasefire in effect, the government
remains hopeful that the resurgence of violence in Mindanao would
not affect the ongoing peace process.
“Let’s us all hope that the
recent battles will not affect the peace because if one side sees a
violation to the ceasefire, it will be blamed on the other party,”
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.
Ermita made the statement
following the reported bombing by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) of a government-owned transmission tower in Cotabato
recently.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said
President Gloria Arroyo has already tasked the military to carry out
appropriate measures to protect civilians amid the hostility in
Mindanao.
“She also put high regard on
the continuity of the peace process because she doesn’t want to
squander the gains spurred by the peace talks,” Dureza said.
Dureza, however, conceded that
the Mindanao situation is difficult to address.
“It’s not easy to resolve the
Mindanao issue because there are various types of anti-government
groups such as kidnap-for-ransom, extremists and [a] separatist
group like the MILF,” Dureza said.
--Angelo S. Samonte
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