Manila, Philippines — In observance of the end of Muslim’s holiday month of fasting, Malacanang has declared September 10, a non-working holiday.
The month of fasting for Muslim’s is called Ramadan, while the celebration at the end of it is called Eid ul-Fitr.
PEACE negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume after Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.
In a news briefing, Presidential Spokesman Atty. Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno S. Aquino III is determined to pursue his programs for Mindanao, the most important of which is to end the decade-long hostilities in Southern Philippines.
Lacierda said the appointment of UP College of Law dean Marvic Leonen as chief negotiator in the peace talks with the secessionist rebels is a clear testament of the Aquino administration’s commitment to pursue the consultative peace process.
He said Leonen, together with Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles, will review past agreements and records of talks and documents entered by the previous administration with the MILF peace panel.
Covered by the review is the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) with the MILF.
Lacierda also echoed the President’s statement that the present government is committed to a consultative peace process by appointing credible personalities that truly understand the country’s history, diverse cultures and aspirations to head the government peace panel. (PIA-Bohol)
Despite the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue to strike on the Lawless MILF Groups (LMGs) responsible for the attacks of the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Norte.
According to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander Yano, the government needs to sustain its gains and military campaign against those MILF perpetrators of un-Islamic acts in Mindanao.
However, the AFP Chief of Staff said that tactical adjustments will be made by their military commanders in field to allow non-lawless MILG groups and other Muslims to peacefully observe Ramadhan.
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured that appropriate assistance and support will be extended to those at the evacuation centers so that they can observe Ramadhan unhampered. (PIA/Bohol)
Malacanang said that military operations against rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will continue during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Although Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita explained that the ceasefire in Mindanao remains in effect, the objective of the military pursuit operations, is to account for the renegade MILF members Commanders “Umbra Kato” and “Bravo” who had torched houses in a number of villages and killed several innocent civilians including children, women and the elderly.
Reiterating the government’s crackdown on the forces of Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the rampage of lawless MILF elements calls for resolute military and police action.
The Chief Executive pointed out that the government has never deviated from the objectives of the peace process with the MILF, but that peace must be based on justice.
She said that the Bravo and Kato belonged to lawless groups that had been historically creating trouble before and during the government-MILF peace negotiations.
Under the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan starts on Sept. 1 and ends on Sept. 31 this year. (PIA/Bohol)
