Aquino: Let's not abandon peace talks with MILF

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday urged the nation not to abandon the Bangsamoro peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) following the deadly "misencounter" in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Aquino delivered a televised address on the death of 44 members of the Philippine National Police's elite Special Action Force (SAF) in the hands of MILF fighters on Sunday, which has cast doubts over the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process.

Aquino said the sacrifice of the slain elite cops will be put into waste if the peace talks will not be pursued.

"Isipin din po natin: Ang mga kasapi ng SAF ay nasawi habang tinutupad ang kanilang tungkuling panatilihin ang kaligtasan. Kung hindi magtatagumpay ang prosesong pangkapayaan; kung babalik tayo sa status quo, o kung lalala pa ang karahasan, di ba't ito mismo ang kabaliktaran ng kanilang pinagbuwisan ng buhay," Aquino said.

"Di po ba: Sa hinaharap nating hamon upang maisulong ang kapayapaan, lalo pa tayong dapat magkapit-bisig at lalo pa dapat nating ituloy ang mga susunod na hakbang tulad ng pagpapasa ng BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law)," he added.

The fallen cops were supposed to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkipli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino Basit Usman, both bomb experts linked to the Jemaah Islamiya terror group.