Esperon Blunder is Testament of GMA's Peace Policy

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Liza Maza today joined calls for the immediate resignation of Peace Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.

"He is not worthy of his position. The Memorandum of Agreement that supposedly marked a breakthrough in the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has failed to undergo a thorough and sincere process of consultation among stakeholders. Somebody has to take responsibility and heads should roll," said Rep. Maza

“Esperon, who has always been President Arroyo’s go-to guy in corrupt and baleful operations from the Garci scandal to the human rights violations of the Armed Forces under his term, should go.”

The Gabriela solon further said that Esperon's involvement in the peace process raises several questions “What could they be up to this time? May niluluto nanaman ba sila?” According to Maza, it was a demonstration of the Arroyo government's vicious peace policy.

Maza also said that the secrecy with which the MoA was crafted brings about doubts of underlying intentions such as Charter Change to pave the way for President Arroyo's term extension or to further US military presence, military presence and intervention. "Bringing about genuine peace and upholding people's rights and interests could very well be the least of the government's intentions in its negotiations with the MILF."

"The Arroyo government's track record in peace negotiations is filled with backstabbing and treachery, talking peace on one hand while pursuing an all out war on the other. For several years the Arroyo regime has purposely refused to acknowledge and address extrajudicial killings, disappearances and human rights violations committed against peace advocates and human rights defenders. This is definitely not the way to talk peace."