President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday scrapped her government's peace panel with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) even as she announced a new peace policy aimed at disarming, disbanding, and reintegrating armed rebel forces into the Philippine military. Announcing the major government policy shift at a press conference, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Arroyo made the decision after the peace panel headed by retired General Rodolfo Rodolfo Garcia was “misled” into nearly signing a Moro homeland agreement in Malaysia last Aug. 5. Ermita said the Philippine government would be forming a new peace panel with the MILF. However, he said peace talks will not resume unless the Moro separatist group commits to abide by the ceasefire agreement with Manila and turns over two rogue field commanders and other members who recently launched vicious attacks on civilian targets in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, and other provinces in Mindanao, killing at least 30 civilians and leaving thousands homeless. The policy shift by the Arroyo government was received calmly by the MILF leadership. Commenting on the dissolution of the Philippine government's peace panel, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said this is normal in a peace process and a prerogative of both sides. “This is normal in a negotiation. Each side can dissolve or replace its panel anytime it wishes,” Iqbal said. Iqbal assured that MILF fighters will not react violently to the dissolution of the peace panel. Ermita said Arroyo has ordered National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales to go on an official mission to Kuala Lumpur to officially inform the Malaysian government about the government's decision to dissolve the government's peace panel. Ermita said all sectors involved in the peace process will be asked to recommend the new members of the peace panel with the MILF. __
