Why indeed should an issue that affects the country and involves its citizens be negotiated and settled in another country and mediated by third parties?

“Extraneous” forces and factors cannot and should not be engaged in pursuit of the national interest.

It also betrays our collective distrust and unwillingness to sort out our internal problems on our own.

This is both an embarrassment and a shame.     

In this sense we agree absolutely with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in urging  the Aquino administration  to bring peace negotiations to the country rather than hold talks abroad, such as the one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Enrile said conducting the peace talks in the country would enable the government to present its demands to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front without any intervention from foreign governments.

“Why are they doing it in KL? Why not hold the talks right here in the country? That’s an internal problem. The MILF is not an international group.Why are other countries such as Japan and even the others intervening?” the Senate president was quoted by a major broadsheet as saying in a radio interview.

“What else do they talk about when I have learned that the MILF’s desire is for a sub-state, no more, no less? The bottom line here is, accept this or we will wage a war,” he said.

Enrile said he is praying that the problem would soon be resolved, pointing out that his objection is mainly on why the peace talks are being held abroad.

“This involves our internal laws, our Constitution. International law has nothing to with it,” he stressed.

Thus, the Senate chief joined calls to review the peace talks, especially why the MILF was allowed a so-called Area of Temporary Stay.

Enrile said he believed that the killing of 19 military officers last week in Basilan was another attempt by the MILF to strengthen their position in the peace negotiations.

“They are creating the impression that the government is very weak. That’s how it looks. But there are political reasons for what is happening,” he said. “It is up to them. All I can say is good luck. I hope they achieve their dreams. I pray that they will succeed.”

During the Marcos regime, Enrile noted that as Defense minister, he ordered all-out war against the Moro National Liberation Front, which forced the leaders to go back to the peace negotiating table with the government.

According to Enrile, the Aquino administration should show that it is in control of the situation, and not the other way around.

He noted that the MILF seemed to be calling the shots in the peace process, adding that it was also a test of the resolve of the present administration to stick to the peace talks despite the violence.

Citing Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s  impressions, the Senate chief said recent developments showed that the country has become a failed state.

He said as lawmakers, they can merely air their opinions on the issue since the peace talks are a matter for the Executive department to deal with.