Joker: Aventajado can't commit federalism, autonomy to Sayyaf

The government's chief negotiator with the Abu Sayyaf, Secretary Robert Aventajado, cannot commit autonomy or a federal system of government for Mindanao, Rep. Joker Arroyo (LAMP, Makati) said yesterday.

"He cannot make any commitment as far as autonomy or federalism is concerned. That is a policy matter and therefore within the province of Congress," he said.

Arroyo was commenting on reports that Aventajado broached the idea of an expanded autonomy during his talks with Abu Sayyaf leaders.

Another congressman, Ernesto Herrera of Bohol, welcomed the offer of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), composed of Muslim countries, to help settle the Mindanao conflict.

However, Herrera urged the OIC to condemn in unequivocal terms the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist group.

"This is the only way to avoid perceptions that Muslims will defend fellow Muslims no matter what. Such a strong, categorical condemnation will also divorce the Abu Sayyaf from the rest of the Muslim community, and effectively sever whatever claims to Islamic legitimacy it may have," he said.

Arroyo said Aventajado's mention of an expanded autonomy or federalism in his negotiations with Muslim bandits could be connected to moves in the Senate to amend the Constitution to replace the presidential system with a federal form of government.

"This is actually a sneak attack. They are using the Mindanao crisis to justify renewed moves to amend the Charter," he said.

He added that he suspects that the real objective is to lift the term limits for elective officials, including the President.

For his part, Herrera said amending the Constitution to install a federal system would mean "capitulation to barbarians like the Abu Sayyaf."

It would impart the wrong message that a group of bandits can resort to kidnappings and killings to bend the government to its will, the former senator said.

"Besides, putting the federal system in place would open the Constitution to mangling by those who would try to insert provisions inimical to the integrity of the nation," he added.