Has Pres GMA Junked The Peace Process?

Senator Rodolfo G Biazon today is asking if the Administration has given up on the peace process or is it junking the same?

"Would the appointment of General Hermogenes Esperon, the recently retired Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines whose policy was to pursue relentlessly the three different rebel groups - the CPP-NPA, the MILF and rebel soldiers who are fighting different ideological goals, make him a successful agent for peace? the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security queried.

"Fighting all the rebels was his job as AFP COS. His fights however were impaired by certain baggage which includes the question of extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances."

Biazon cited, "These can not be ignored because of conclusions made by the different investigative agencies such as the Melo Commission, Commission on Human Rights, Alston-Rapporteur and Economic Union reports, stating that the military had certain levels of responsibility."

"General Esperon is not in the same level of credibility and acceptability as the former Peace Advisers such as Haydee Yorac, Howard Dee, Manuel Yan and Jesus Dureza. They were acceptable to the rebels themselves."

"Will General Esperon be able to engage all these rebels in back - channeling discussions which somehow give the peace process some hope considering the pronounced rejection by these elements of his appointment as peace adviser?"

Biazon also said General Esperon is even starting his projected job on the wrong foot citing Esperon's statements which appeared in today's Philippine Star (front page), "There are many roads to peace and sometimes you have to wage war..."

The former AFP Chief of Staff emphasized, "War had been waged for the past 3 or 4 decades and yet peace continues to still be illusive, still General Esperon considers war as an option towards gaining peace."

Biazon concluded, "If a General needs to be appointed to the position, I would opt for General Rodolfo Garcia, a member of the present GRP panel engaging talks with the MILF."