MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang admitted on Monday that the deadly armed encounter between the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) commandos and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters could have led to a new war.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said both sides could have launched new attacks following the incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that killed 44 SAF troopers and 18 MILF combatants.
"What we forget, nakalimutan natin na kung talagang wala ng gana talaga ang kalaban natin, ang MILF, na magpatuloy ng peace process, what happened in Mamasapano would have continued forth to another set of war," Lacierda said.
"Puwedeng magtuloy ‘yon because nalagasan tayo, galit tayo. Hindi rin natin maipagkakailang nalagasan din ang MI. And they or us would have continued forth and pursued this offensive action either—on both sides," he added.
Fortunately, Lacierda said a possible war was averted after the government and the rebels observed the ongoing ceasefire that comes with the peace negotiations between both sides.
"But the ceasefire worked. Both sides decided let’s put an end to this," Lacierda said. "So on the side of MI, on our side, we chose peace rather than go to war again with each other."
Lacierda said the MILF continues to be the government's "full partners in the peace process."
He admitted, however, that it will be difficult now to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law after the SAF troopers were killed in the hands of the MILF and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
But Lacierda is also not entertaining the idea of not completing the Bangsamoro peace process within the term of President Aquino.
"We do not because we will continue to fight for the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We need to continue to fight for the peace agreement that we have forged... That is one of the ways of giving justice to our SAF commandos who fell during Mamasapano," he said.
The Palace official again reminded lawmakers that there is no alternative to the BBL.
"I have always said this, the alternative to peace is too costly for us to bear. It’s very difficult if we go to war and it’s not even something that we should be dreaming of," said Lacierda.
The Philippine Star
