MILF to form peace panel soon after P-Noy's SONA

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao, July 27 (PNA) -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Tuesday lauded the pronouncement of President Noynoy Aquino that the stalled Mindanao peace talks would resume after fasting month of Ramadhan.

The MILF also announced that it will form its deactivated peace panel in response to the SONA.

"It was a welcome development," Von Al-Haq, speaking for the MILF, said Tuesday, a day after President Aquino delivered his first State-of-the-Nation Address during which he announced the resumption of peace process in August.

Fasting month starts on August 9 and expected to end on September 9, 2010.

The MILF deactivated its panel after June 30 when the term of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ended.

Al Haq said the MILF has been ready anytime to resume the peace process.

In a separate interview, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF political affairs chief, said the MILF viewed with optimism the statement of President Aquino that talks will resume soon.

"We have been waiting for that presidential pronouncement," Jaafar said adding that the President also recognized the MILF efforts to watch its ranks.

But Jaafar quickly added that how the president's pronouncements are transformed into actions "remains to be seen."

In his SONA, President Aquino said he has never changed his stance that genuine peace will only be achieved if all stakeholders -Moro, Lumad or Christian- will actively participate in an honest and transparent dialogue.

"We will learn from the mistakes of the past administration, that suddenly announced an agreement reached without consultations from all concerned," the President said.

Jaafar said the President's announcement also gave some hope among Moro people in southern Philippines.

Aquino earlier named Dean Marvic Leonen to head the government peace panel.(PNA)