Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2010

Noy junks MILF plea; insists on retaining US forces in Mindanao

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Mario J. Mallari 08/11/2010 President Aquino is not about to go against American policy, which is to maintain the US forces in Mindanao, rejecting the appeal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for him to remove the US armed presence in that region. This simple request was said to have been forwarded by the MILF chairman, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who said that American presence in Mindanao merely complicates the restive situation in the region which might get in the way once they start negotiating next month. Malacañang through presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said Aquino is committed to resume the peace process without either party laying down a set of preconditions. “We have not set any preconditions so we hope that they (MILF) will not use as a precondition thd US presence in Mindanao that they are talking about. This is an internal problem that can be resolved by the MILF and the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP),” Lacierda said at a news conference. Murad also reportedly communicated to some members of the media that they have no intention to go back to square one in the peace negotiations that will be facilitated by the new Aquino administration..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100811hed4.html

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