Peace Update: "Ceasefire Mechanism still in place to prevent violence between MILF & PHL gov't"

"Military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said that despite the MILF's fears, a ceasefire mechanism was still in place that would prevent violence between the two sides. He also said upcoming informal talks between the MILF and the government in early-November would hopefully ease the tensions. "We will wait for the feedback from what happens in the peace talks in November," Burgos said. The 12,000-strong MILF are engaged in peace talks with the government and have a ceasefire in place. However the recent violent clashes have stoked popular anger against the rebel group, with growing calls for an "all-out war" against the rebels. Philippine President Benigno Aquino has said he remained committed to the peace process despite the recent violence."
AFP: Philippine Muslim rebels ready 'to fight' if attacked:
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Peace Update: Vietnam & PHL agree for a peaceful and multilateral approach to settle territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Vietnam expressed support for the Philippine proposal for a zone of peace, freedom, friendship, and cooperation in the West Philippine Sea.

"I think what we committed to do was we embraced the approach of, one, is looking for a peaceful resolution; two, is we want to pursue a rules-based regime; third is we want to do this on a multilateral basis; and fourth is we want to observe the DOC [Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea] and we also are looking for incorporating the Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZOPFFC) framework that the Philippines had introduced so that it can further strengthen the implementing guidelines of the DOC," said del Rosario.

Vietnam also clarified during the bilateral meeting that the recently signed agreement between China and Vietnam for bilateral negotiations on the South China Sea only concerns areas not contested by the Philippines."
Vietnam, PH agree on $3B trade by 2016 | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features: "
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Peace Update: “... launching attacks to avenge the death of soldiers could put the lives of innocent civilians in danger...war is not the answer"

Palace: No AFP demoralization - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said that while they grieve for their comrades who died during the recent clashes, they cannot allow their emotions to overwhelm them.

“We know that people are commiserating with members of the AFP. Their emotions are high. On our part, we feel that way, we are also humans but the answer is not through offensive, that we have to use the barrel of the gun to solve this,” Burgos told dzBB.

“We have to think of this carefully and we have persons in authority who know this better,” he added.

Burgos said launching attacks to avenge the death of soldiers could put the lives of innocent civilians in danger.

“If you want retaliation, we can retaliate but let’s see the casualties not only on the part of the armed forces and the other side but also to the Filipino people. The civilians in the area, the people who will be displaced, we have to study that, we have to consider those factors,” he said, stressing that the military continues to support peaceful ways to resolve the conflict with the MILF."

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Peace Update:PHL has good advantage in agriculture, good opportunity to get partners in business & show what we have & also learn from others-Li Daqiu

A high-ranking Chinese official said yesterday the Philippines has a “very good advantage” in agriculture after a Philippine government official invited Chinese officers and scientists to come and visit the Philippines for cooperation in agricultural technology.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya met with Li Daqiu, vice chairman of the Guangxi Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The 8th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is being held in this city, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is co-sponsored by the ministries of commerce/trade and industry of China, the 10 ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The trade exposition is being held concurrently with the 8th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

During the meeting, Li noted that both countries could further discuss cooperation agriculture and tourism."
Phl has good advantage in agriculture, says Chinese exec - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "
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Women & Children's Causes Update: Education for Lumad lead by Fr. Fausto Tentorio

In 2008, Fr. Fausto Tentorio took over as coordinator of the Tribal Filipino Program of the Archdiocese of Kidapawan from Fr. Peter Geremia, who was assigned as parish priest in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. Tentorio also served as board member of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, a progressive congregation forming education support communities in remote areas not normally reached by government services.
“His support was focused on giving education and health services, especially for the Lumad and the deprived sectors,” Capuyan said. For example, she said, Tentorio helped set up daycare centers in remote areas in Arakan, in Kitaotao town in Bukidnon province, and in some parts of Compostela Valley.
Capuyan said these daycare centers used the indigenous people’s curriculum, inculcating the Lumad culture and tradition, and sometimes even using the Lumad language in the classroom. She said there were 47 such daycare centers in Arakan alone, and 23 in the hinterlands of Kitaotao and Compostela Valley, and even in Davao Oriental province."
Pope hails Fr. Pops: A brave, fervent believer | Inquirer Global Nation: "Pope Benedict XVI expressed his condolences on Wednesday for the killing of Fr. Fausto Tentorio in Arakan, North Cotabato province, and praised the Italian missionary for his bravery and good work.The message to Pinto will be in Thursday’s edition of the Vatican’s official daily, Osservatore Romano. Tentorio was “a good priest, a fervent believer who for many years served the people of the Philippines in a courageous and indefatigable way,” the Pope said in a message to Giuseppe Pinto, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio in Manila.

Tentorio, 59, was shot inside his church compound in Arakan on Monday. He had served for the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Mindanao since 1978.
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Peace Update: President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday he would not resort to ordering an army offensive against Muslim guerrillas

"President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday he would not resort to ordering an army offensive against Muslim guerrillas who killed 19 army soldiers in the southern Philippines despite a clamor for tougher government action.

Tuesday’s intense fighting on southern Basilan island between army special forces and members of the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front killed 25 combatants, including six guerrillas. It was some of the deadliest fighting since 2008, when peace talks bogged down and ignited widespread clashes that killed hundreds and displaced 750,000 people."
Philippine leader says no offensive despite Muslim rebel killing of 19 soldiers; army grieves - The Washington Post:
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Peace Update: PHL gov't & MILF struggled to convince sceptics within their ranks on why they should engage in peace talks while clashes occur

Earlier reports from Basilan island said 20 people were killed when soldiers clashed with the MILF on Tuesday, with each side accusing the other of breaking a seven-year truce.

Now, the Philippine military has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program, that the military was pursuing a bandit group under a local commander, Long Malat, who was not linked to the MILF or the militant Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)

Western Mindanao Command spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, said ten soldiers were missing after the clash, and the military is pusuing the bandit group who are believed to have taken them hostage.

He insisted Tuesday's clash has not jeopardised the peace process.

"What we were operating against yesterday was a bandit group, not linked to the ASG and not linked to the MILF.

"But since the encounter took nine hours, we saw that some members of the ASG and some members of the MILF participated in the encounter. That is why I believe that the MILF also suffered some casualties." he said."
Australia Network News:Stories:Philippines peace process intact after armed clashes: "Asian Foundation's Steven Rodd told Connect Asia that peace talks were stalled in April but are likely to resume shortly.

But strains on both sides could increase if clashes between troops and rebels continue once new peace talks begin.

Both the government and the MILF have struggled to convince sceptics within their ranks on why they should engage in peace talks while clashes occur.

The Abu Sayyaf is a bandit group involved in terror and kidnapping activities in Basilan and another southern province - Sulu - while the MILF is involved in current peace talks with the government.
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