Murad Ebrahim, the MILF military chief, signed the cease-fire declaration effective June 2, giving the group's field commanders enough time to receive and comply with the order. Eid Kabalu, the MILF spokesman, said the decision was in response to an "earnest call" from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, the Bishop-Ulama Conference of the Philippines and other peace advocates for an end to fighting in Mindanao.
Fierce fighting had been raging for the last 12 days since the Government ordered a military drive against "terrorists" allegedly sheltered by MILF. "In view thereof, the central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front declares a 10-day unilateral suspension of offensive military actions throughout Mindanao and Sulu," Kabalu told the AFP by phone.
President Arroyo, before leaving for a state visit to the United States on May 17th, ordered the military to launch punitive artillery and air strikes against the rebel positions in Central Mindanao to flush out "the terrorists among them." The Government blamed MILF for a spate of attacks and deadly bombings in Mindanao that left about 100 dead since March. The military has also linked MILF to the Jema'ah Islamiah, a regional terrorist wing of Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network blamed for the October 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia, that killed more than 200.
The President gave MILF until June 1st to end attacks on civilians and cut links with terrorist cells, or be officially treated as terrorists themselves - a move that could end peace negotiations. Malacaņang said on Wednesday that the President was willing to call a Government truce, but was waiting for proof that MILF is sincere in declaring the cease-fire.
"We view the MILF statement as a positive and welcome development... we are even prepared to respond with an offer of a permanent cease-fire leading to the signing of a final peace agreement at the earliest possible time," the President said. But she added that police and military operations in Mindanao would continue until those responsible for the attacks in Koronadal, South Cotabato; Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte; and Maigo, Lanao del Norte, are arrested. The Government also wants MILF to hand over those suspected of taking part in these attacks to prove that it still controls its field commanders.
Defense Secretary Angelo T. Reyes welcomed the cease-fire, but warned that MILF could use the 10 days to regroup. "We don't want a 10-day cease-fire, because MILF will start fighting again when the 10 days are over," Reyes said at a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo. "We want a permanent cease-fire [so that] negotiations can start." Reyes said "normal police and law-enforcement functions" would continue while the Government considers its reply to the MILF declaration. The announcement of the cease-fire coincided with the start of the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Teheran, Iran, where moves by Manila to brand MILF a terrorist organization could be discussed.
The presidential adviser on strategic concerns, Renato de Villa, said the Government would wait until the cease-fire takes effect. He added: "We have to see what happens next. There have been declarations like this in the past. I hope this is a real one... It is their responsibility to show that this is for real". De Villa has been ordered by President Arroyo to find out if there are grounds for labeling MILF a terrorist organization.
Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman, said the group called a truce because like the Government, it wants to give peace a chance: "MILF is committed to a peaceful negotiated settlement. This is also in response to the peace advocates, who asked us to stop fighting and pursue the path to peace."
The recent fighting has left more than 60 MILF rebels dead and displaced about 20,000 civilians. Peace talks with the 12,500-strong separatist force were stalled after the military dislodged MILF from a sprawling camp in the Buliok complex in Central Mindanao in February. Kabalu said the MILF central command hoped the cease-fire would help to pave the way for the resumption of talks.
In the Senate, Senator Ramon Magsaysay, chairman of the Committee on National Defense and Security, said he hopes the Government will not only support the cease-fire, but also push the peace process. The MILF truce "is a window of opportunity to make peace work," he said.
