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Manila: The Philippine government is willing to forge a final peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) before elections are held in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in August, Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, said yesterday.
"If possible, we will forge an agreement with the MILF before the August ARMM election. The finality of the peace process is the top policy in Mindanao," Dureza said in a statement.
Stalled
Negotiations between the MILF and the government were stalled last December when government negotiators inserted a phrase in the proposed final agreement that was opposed by the leadership of the secessionist group.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu welcomed the development saying that the peace pact was "long overdue" blaming the government's "insincerity".
"This is the demand of all sectors - for us to sign the agreement," Kabalu said.
Dureza said negotiators for both sides were facing "difficulties".
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