[WATCH] Cayetano in heated exchange with Ferrer at Mamasapano clash hearing

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano figured in a tense exchange with Government Peace Panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer when he asked her if she was familiar with a policy of the government against negotiating with terrorists.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has criticized the chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for failing to appear before the Senate for the inquiry on the Mamasapano encounter.

Cayetano’s theory

At the Senate hearing on Tuesday, February 10, Cayetano stated, “Tactical move sa (MILF) ito. Pinababayaan nila na yun militar at pulis at pulitiko natin ay magturuan. Pero kung hindi nila kinukupkop si Marwan at hindi sila lumaban sa [Special Action Forces], hindi patay ang 44 ngayon.”

He added, “That is why I cannot accept na tuluy-tuloy ang hearing na ito tapos sila, they will take their time and attend later.”

In his letter to the Senate, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said he will appear before the inquiry after the MILF investigation commission comes out with its own findings on the incident, which will then be the basis of his testimony.

Iqbal also pointed out that the MILF remains a revolutionary organization until its peace agreement with the government is fully implemented.

Tense exchange

Cayetano figured in a tense exchange with Government Peace Panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer when he asked her if she was familiar with a policy of the government against negotiating with terrorists.

Ferrer indicated that the MILF “is not listed on any terrorist list.” She also said, “The government policy is to negotiate with the armed groups that are fighting the government.”

Cayetano interrupted her by saying, “All governments around the world, the policy is not to negotiate with terrorists. If the peace panel does not know that, we’re in trouble.”

Once again, Cayetano asked Ferrer: “What is the policy of the Republic of the Philippines? Do we negotiate with terrorists?”

Ferrer replied that she was “not aware of any such policy.”

At this, Cayetano stated, “May I put it on record we are in trouble because the peace negotiators do not even know that we cannot negotiate with terrorists.”

Deles weighs in

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles later explained to Cayetano, “The policy decision of government to negotiate with the MILF since 2003 has always been accompanied by dependable, rigorous Philippine intelligence. And certainly this will not be allowed and every time terrorist acts may have been seen as possibly being associated with them, certainly this has always been raised,” she said.

Deles reiterated that the MILF has cooperated with the government in the peace process.

MILF reiterates support for peace process

For his part, Rasid Ladiasan, the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCH), said, “Hindi po kami terrorist, ang MILF. We have been fighting terrorism in all forms through the peace process.”

Ladiasan also stressed that the MILF does not have any connection with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which Iqbal earlier alleged was the one coddling Marwan.

Ladiasan went on to say, “Wala na po kaming kaugnayan sa BIFF. Separate na po sila. Hindi po sila naniniwala sa peace process, at kami po ay committed po sa peace process,” he said.

He pointed out that the MILF will not risk losing its opportunity for peace after years of negotiating with the government. “We will not sacrifice the more than 17 years. Naghirap po ang tao namin… Ayoko pong mawala itong opportunity. Hindi po tama na ngayong time na ito pa mawala yung opportunity ng peace,” he said.

Ladiasan then thanked Deles and Ferrer “for keeping the faith in the peace process.”

Watch the video here.