Saying that haste makes waste, Mindanao leaders are asking government not to rush a final peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) especially now that the country is preparing to elect new national and local leaders.

During a hearing conducted by the House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, congressional and local government leaders in Mindanao warned government against “keeping the public on the dark again” as it tries to forge a peace pact with the MILF with March, 2010 seen as the signing date.

North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel Pinol said President Arroyo should leave the task of finishing a permanent peace agreement to the next president.

“Signing the peace agreement in March is both impractical and dangerous.

They should let the next president work on it so that he will not revalidate something he did not sign,” Pinol said.

On the other hand, Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat batted for the conduct of consultations with local leaders covered by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, saying that many of them no longer want to be part of the autonomous government.

Reps. Bernardo Piñol Jr. (NPC, North Cotabato), Ma. Isabelle Climaco (LDP, Zamboanga City) and Darlene Antonino-Custodio (NPC, South Cotabato)
assailed Ambassador Rafael Seguis, head of the GRP panel to the peace talks, for failing to show up in the hearing called by Sulu Rep. Yusop Jikiri.

Climaco is the author of House Resolution No. 1546 demanding from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process a full disclosure of the specific details of the revived peace talks.