A clash that left dozens dead last month in Mindanao has become a nightmare for President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III. The incident, which involved the Philippine police and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has negatively affected the ongoing peace process there. Now, Aquino is asking Philippine MPs not bury the remaining options for peace.

The Philippine government and the MILF signed an agreement in March 2014 to put an end to an armed conflict lasting for 50 years in which 120,000 people have lost their lives. The deal provided for the disarmament of thousands of MILF guerrillas and for enlarged autonomy for Mindanao Muslim's territory, the Bangsamoro. The autonomy deal needs to be approved by the Philippine Congress.

But things have gone wrong since January 25th. The special forces of the Philippine police carried out an operation in Mamasapano (Mindanao) on that day in order to arrest two senior members of the Islamist group Jemaah Islamiyah. The MILF, which is also present in the area, says the Philippine police did not warn it they were about to arrest the Jemaah Islamiyah members. Amid the confusion, MILF guerrillas and the police started to shoot one another. The result was dozens dead, including 44 policemen, 18 MILF members, 5 BIFF (another armed group in Mindanao) members, plus several civilians.

As a result, an intense debate has broken out in the Philippine society about MILF's true intentions and whether Aquino will be able to properly manage the peace process. Demonstrations calling for Aquino's resignation have been held, and a group of lawmakers now say they will not give their support to the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which should be the basis for the autonomy of Muslim Mindanao. But on the other side, the MILF argues that the incident was caused by confusion, and that it remains committed to peace.

Earlier this week, Aquino asked those who are calling for a stop the peace process: "How can they guarantee that such an opportunity will present itself once more?". But the President remains in an uncomfortable position. On the one side, because the Bangsamoro Basic Law could as of today be defeated if it were submitted to the Philippine Congress. On the other, because Benigno could lose all credibility if the conflict reignites again.