(MILF) saying it would cooperate with the government in going after
kidnapping-for-ransom groups as well as reining in its lost commands.
Government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen said in a statement this
week that the MILF reaffirmed its commitment with the government in
dealing with criminal groups and MILF lost commands based on existing
agreements.
"We read that (Leonen statement) as a positive development. Despite of
what's going on here, both parties are [seeking] the resolve to find
peace in the region and we appreciate that," Presidential Spokesman
Edwin Lacierda said in an interview over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan
on Saturday.
At the same time, Lacierda said the government expects the MILF
leadership to be true to its word in dealing with criminal groups and
its lost commands.
"We expect them to be at arm's length with us in the peace
negotiations. We've been very forthright and frank with them just as
we expect them to be frank and forthright with us in the discussions,"
he said.
The government hopes to move into the more substantive issues in the
peace talks in Malaysia, Lacierda said.
Leonen said in his statement that both the government and MILF panels
had a candid exchange on pressing issues regarding the negotiations.
Both sides identified their common grounds as well as their
differences, he said.
"As we had hoped, we agreed to move forward on the substantive agenda
and meet again very soon for this purpose," Leonen said.
With regards to the bloody incident in Al Barka, Basilan, where
government soldiers were killed, Leonen said both sides agreed to
continue investigating through the current ceasefire mechanisms.
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