Gov’t expects MILF peace talks to resume soon

DAVAO CITY — Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza is optimistic that the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would resume soon.

The talks were stalled last September because of the highly contentious ancestral domain issue.

"I am very positive on the resumption of the peace talks… It would hopefully be soon," Dureza said, adding that a new proposal from chief negotiator Silvestre Afable III on how to solve the thorny issue has been sent to the MILF.

The MILF rejected last Sept. 7 the government’s previous proposal to expand the existing coverage of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), strongly objecting to the phrase "subject to constitutional processes."

Dureza refused to divulge the details of the new proposal but said the phrase has been replaced with "self-determination."

Dureza said this time the government would also do away with setting self-imposed deadlines in forging a final peace agreement with the MILF.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said peace is still maintained in Mindanao even as the talks with the MILF are stalled. — With Lino dela Cruz