MANILA, Oct. 20, 2011— A Catholic bishop appealed to the Aquino administration to continue the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite last Tuesday’s bloody encounter in Basilan province.
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said the deadly clash between the government troopers and the MILF should not disrupt the peace process to end the decades-long armed conflict in Southern Philippines.
“Continue the peace talks and don’t get tired so that peace and harmony will be attained,” said Jumoad.
Last Tuesday, 19 Army Special Forces officers and men died, including six that were injured, captured then executed, after they reportedly encountered joint forces of the MILF and the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
The encounter occurred despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement adopted by both parties due to the peace negotiations.
The panels from the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF are scheduled to resume the peace talks next month.
Bishop Jumoad condemned the recent incident which also killed nine MILF rebels, adding that it was another saddening moment for the Church.
“It is always painful when fellow Filipinos kill each other,” he said. [CBCPNews]
