Sep. 2--Was there ever really a chance the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front would amount to anything more than a cessation of hostilities--or ceasefire? And wasn't it leading for our Republic of the Philippines to be dismembered, with territories defined by the MILF's leaders as their Bangsamoro homeland turned into an independent state?

Ever since peace talks between the government and the MILF began in 1996, ceasefires have been broken. MILF fighters headed by commanders described by the MILF leadership as truly of the organization attacked AFP units, bombed or raided villages and killed residents and soldiers. In every case the MILF leadership said that MILF force's action was "unauthorized."

Some "peace talks" history

On September 2, 1996, the GRP-Moro National Liberation Front Final Peace Agreement was signed. The MILF central leadership immediately declared its disapproval. Later in 1996, the MNLF's Chairman Nur Misuari was elected governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The Ramos administration moved to proceed with carrying out the GRP-MNLF FPA and the ARMM law.

In October 1996, it formed a brand new negotiating panel for talks with the MILF. While getting ready to hold "peace talks" with the Ramos government representative, the MILF displayed its strength on December 3 to 5 in Cotabato City, by holding a large assembly of its members nearly all raising guns. The MILF leaders reaffirmed the organization's commitment to independence from the Filipino state. Soon after, GRP and MILF representatives started "peace negotiations."

In early 1997, the GRP and MILF panels issued a "joint statement for peace." But heavy fighting between MILF and AFP forces in Buldon, in which hundreds on both sides were killed, doomed the negotiations. In March, an Interim Ceasefire Monitoring Committee was formed. Only three months later, in June, after incidents of bombings and firefights between MILF and government troops, the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched the biggest offensive thus far against MILF.

In 1999, after some preliminary confidence-building contacts, formal peace talks began at the Dawah Center, in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The two panels, on December 17, agreed on the rules and procedures for the conduct of formal peace talks.