NEW CLASHES BETWEEN AFP TROOPS AND MILF REBELS
 MAY IMPERIL PEACE TALKS -- PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today expressed concern about renewed clashes between government troops and Muslim rebels in Maguindanao which could imperil the peace talks.

Pimentel said it is unfortunate that the skirmishes broke out while the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are already in the homestretch of the negotiations leading to forging of a final peace agreement.

He urged both the government and MILF to exhaust all means to work out a ceasefire with the help of the international monitoring team before fighting worsens.

Whatever be the cause of the renewed clashes between government troops and militiamen, the government should step in to prevent a further escalation of the hostilities, the lone senator from Mindanao said.

Pimentel said the latest initial reports from Maguindanao forwarded to his office, showed that 743 families have been adversely affected by the fighting.

They need food, medicine, tents, water and blankets. I call upon the Department of Social Welfare and Development to give succor to the non-combatants who are suffering as a result of the fighting, he said.