RP peace deal in jeopardy

RP peace deal in jeopardy

MANILA (AFP): The Philippine government's peace talks with Moro rebels may be jeopardized if the Senate holds an inquiry into an interim peace deal, chief presidential aide Ruben Torres warned yesterday.

Torres made the comments to reporters after the Senate proposed inquiring into Manila's provisional peace deal with the main rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The deal has triggered widespread protests from the Christian majority in the southern Philippines.

Asked if the probe would jeopardize the peace talks brokered by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Torres said: "Yes, yes, that's our point."

"What we are asking is deferment until we can get a complete agreement," he said.