Now that the government forces resumed their offensive against the MILF rebels who went berserk after the failed signing of the MOA-AD, the MILF chief is already seeking the assistance of Malaysia to revive peace talks. It will be interesting to note how Malaysia shall bring both camps again to the negotiating table minus the MOA-AD deal; but the Philippine government has always expressed interest to resume peace talks with the MILF.

Even if the MILF has threatened the government with large scale rebellion if peace talks be discontinued, President Arroyo assured the public that the government shall never go on a wide scale war against the secessionist group. At least people in most part of Mindanao can relax and enjoy some peace for now; the MILF high command has already restrained their commanders from attacking unarmed civilians.

But military operations in the south continue as the police and military vowed to capture commander Bravo and commander Kato. It is a selective operation though as other MILF units are spared, only the forces of these two wanted commanders are being targeted in the offensive.

Earlier the MILF higher command rejects disarming as they are told too by the President. They also refuse to surrender their two field commanders, Kato and Bravo. Murad said the two commanders are too important in their peace negotiation with the government.

But the Philippine government keeps on applying pressure to the MILF to surrender their two commanders wanted for the massacre of civilians and the burning of houses. Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told the MILF that it would do no good to them to coddle these two commanders. On his part Malacanang spokesperson Anthony Golez reminded the MILF that they can not use peace talk to shield their criminal acts.

It appears that the MILF is poised for a wide scale war. Despite the call for peace for both the government and the MILF warn they can go anytime on large-scale rebellion if the peace process shall collapse. War is their only option, and it’s a part of their struggle.

However to go to war with the MILF is costly according to former president Fidel V. Ramos. With its hard up economy the Philippines cannot afford to wage a protracted struggle against the MILF. The Philippine Army is already hard up contending the arm struggle of some 6,000 NPA forces (according to the military estimate) all over the country; how much more if they will face again a full scale war with 12,000 fully armed MILF force? But the military is always quick to say they are in control and can face any group seeking to overthrow the government.

But peace talk is indispensable. Peace advocates always prod the government and the rebels to negotiate for peaceful settlements of all the grievances and demands of the rebels. Unfortunately not all the demands for peaceful solutions of armed conflicts are acceptable to the government. For sure the government is not willing to lose a portion of its national territory for the sake of peace.

But who is against peaceful settlements and end rebellion in the country? Why waste lives of people and government resources to wage war when a truthful peace talk could do it. With MILF seeking help from Malaysia for the resumption of peace talk, this is a very good start in brokering an enduring peace for the war thorn southern Mindanao. Granting that Malaysia accedes to the request of the MILF to be the mediator, will the rebel group oblige when they are asked by the Malaysian peace negotiators to surrender commander Bravo and commander Kato to the Philippine government?