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MANILA, Philippines — The United States government has reiterated its willingness to help in the peace talks between the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“We intend to be supportive in whatever way both parties think could be useful. We don’t have a set roadmap yet [but] we’re waiting to see where the discussions will go and how we can help,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney told reporters Monday in an interview at the Makati Shangri-La hotel.
Kenney was with visiting US Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, who spoke at a business forum in the hotel.
Asked if US mediators were already engaged in discussions with Philippine and MILF peace negotiators, Kenney replied: “We’re waiting to see a little bit more from both parties on how they think we can best support.”
On October 16, US chargé d’affaires Leslie Bassett met with MILF chief Murad Ebrahim in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat.
In her message posted on the rebels’ website, Bassett said the United States was committed to support the peace process by providing more assistance and more specific roles.
“Helping attain and sustain peace, security, and development in Mindanao is a priority concern of our government,” she had said.
Quoting Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, the MILF said on its website that without the participation of the former colonizing power, the process of finding a peaceful solution would be “really difficult.”
The United States knows the root of the conflict in Mindanao, Mantawil said, which is the annexation of Mindanao to the rest of the Philippines.
