Press Release
October 24, 2011

SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN CALLS FOR TEMPORARY SUSPENSION
OF CEASFIRE TALKS WITH THE MILF

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Chair of the Senate Committee on Social Justice and Rural Development and of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, calls on the government to temporarily suspend talks with the MILF pending a review of the ceasefire agreement. Pangilinan made the call as reports show that continued attacks have killed seven more, including five civilians.

"We support the President's call for sobriety in not going for an all-out war against the MILF," Pangilinan says. "But we urge the MILF to come out with a categorical statement in regard to their so-called 'lost commands' that have been sowing violence in Basilan over the past weeks. We also urge the President to suspend peace talks with the MILF temporarily. The GPH and the MILF must first strengthen the mechanisms of the peace talks, specifically the provisions on ceasefire violations."

Pangilinan says that unless the loopholes in the provisions on ceasefire violations are addressed, he fears that violations will continue and more lives will be lost.

"Ceasefire violations are a hindrance to genuine peace talks. The strengthening of mechanisms against such violations is crucial to both parties moving forward with the peace negotiations. This must include provisions on bringing to justice those perpetrators who, with their actions--regardless of their motives--have resulted in the loss of lives."

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