Gov't peace talks with Muslim rebels still on: Aquino

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno Aquino III expressed optimism today that the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, could complete four annexes of the framework agreement within the year.

Aquino told reporters in an interview that so far Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles informed him that dialogues with the MILF on the two remaining annexes - power- sharing and normalization - were ongoing.

"And on my understanding, the development on the talks on two remaining annexes was good... I was assured that we're still on track and I didn't get any information to the contrary," he said when asked if it would still be possible that the four FAB annexes could be finished within the year.

The government and the MILF peace panels failed to sign the power-sharing and normalization annexes during the talks early this month in Malaysia. There were still some issues that need to be threshed out, particularly on power-sharing.

The annexes on transitional arrangements and modalities and wealth-sharing have long been signed.

The FAB and its four annexes will form part of the comprehensive peace agreement that both sides hope to sign before the end of the year.

The comprehensive peace pact will pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro government that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and end the four-decade armed struggle in southern Philippines.