Philippines says groups taking advantage to derail peace process amid Maguindanao tragedy

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday that there were groups trying to take advantage of the tragic incident in southern province of Maguindanao to derail the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF).

Aquino made this statement when he delivered a message to the nation on what transpired last Sunday in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police were killed allegedly by MILF members.

"From the incident that happened in Mamasapano, there were already those who were trying to take advantage of the tragedy to lessen the trust. They want the peace process to fail," he said without naming those groups.

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and some members of the then secessionist Moro National Liberation Front have been opposing the peace deal that was inked in March last year by the Philippine government and the MILF.

Aquino also noted that there were already those who were proposing to halt the passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law ( BBL) in Congress.

"This should not happen. What at stake in this law is the entire peace process," Aquino said.

But the president said he expects the MILF to show "concrete cooperation" on the peace process by finding out the truth, and to let those behind the carnage be held responsible.

The Aquino government and the 11,800-strong rebel group formally signed the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro on March 27, 2014 at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, ending 40 years of conflict that had claimed thousands of lives and stalled economic development in areas affected by fighting.

However, the Congress suspended deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law which will pave the way for the establishment of a new political entity, part of the peace agreement, as a result of the clashes. Endi