Opposition Senator Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero, a potential presidential candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), cautioned on Tuesday the national government from rushing a peace accord with the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) because of the ‘’doomsday scenario’’ painted by Murad Ibrahim, MILF chairman.

Escudero made the call after chiding the MILF that it would not would never surrender the three commanders responsible for the attacks on civilian communities last year that triggered renewed fighting in central Mindanao.

This developed as the military was reported set to begin punitive action against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) overran its major camp in Indanan, Sulu last Sunday following an almost day-long encounter that resulted in the deaths of eight Marines and five ASG fighters.

The national government-MILF peace process had been stymied by the Supreme Court’s decision rejecting the RP-MILF peace accord on ancestral domain. This set off violence in central Mindanao by MILF commanders.

“The MILF’s intransigence on this issue is disturbing. While it demands that government show sincerity by implementing the agreements made by both panels, it refuses even to acknowledge that their commanders did wrong,” he said.

Murad made the statements during a press conference in a rebel camp in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat over the weekend.