The stalled peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are expected to resume after the elections.
Assistant Secretary Evelyn Daplas of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said the peace talks, which reached an impasse late last year, would resume ?as soon as possible, maybe within a month.?
1st Pulang Bagani Company
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
New People’s Army
Press Statement
15 April 2007
NPA to AFP Eastern Command: Don’t vent ire on civilians to save your dishonor
The 1st Pulang Bagani Company calls on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to stop venting its ire on the people of Barangay Manay and Barangay Casilac, Panabo, Davao del Norte in order to deflect attention from the dishonor it has suffered in the NPA raid on the Davao Penal Colony.
MANILA — Malacanang welcomed today the appeal of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) for a halt to renewed fighting between government forces and the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front, saying it has consistently worked with international allies and stakeholders for peace in the south.
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye stressed however that the government couldn?t have a peace hostaged to the victims of lawless.
PRESS RELEASE
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines ? Tel. No. 834-4000 ? www.dfa.gov.ph
Response of the hon. Alberto G. Romulo Secretary of Foreign Affairs To the Statement of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on the situation in the southern Philippines
17 April 2007
The Philippine Government appreciates the commitment of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to the peace process in the Southern Philippines and to the 1996 Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
By the Policy Study, Publication and Advocacy (PSPA) Program
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
MANILA — The pre-election surveys (PES) conducted by the country’s leading pollsters show the voting preferences of the country’s electorate in the May 14 mid-term elections. Conducted regularly since October last year, the surveys done by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), Pulse Asia and, to some extent, the non-profit IBON, showed opposition candidates for the senatorial race under the Genuine Opposition (GO) pulling away from the administration ticket, Team Unity (TU). Indeed, the latest surveys reveal that between seven to eight opposition candidates, led by Loren Legarda, are the choice of the respondents, with only about two to three administration bets making it. Two independent candidates, Francis Pangilinan and Gregorio Honasan, fill up the rest of the “Magic 12” seats that are up for grabs in the elections.
The surveys also show quite similar trends for the House and local government elections.