Peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume after almost a year of deadlock, GRP panel head Rafael Seguis said upon his arrival from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Thursday afternoon.

Seguis, who arrived from Malaysia together with Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Bong Montesa, held a press conference at the airport to announce the breakthrough in the stalled negotiations.

Seguis said he met with MILF Peace Panel head Mohagher Iqbal in Kuala Lumpur last July 28 and 29 where they established official contact between the two panels. He said the GRP and the MILF expressed a common desire to bring the Mindanao peace process back on track by addressing major issues and committing to sustain the Government’s Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and the MILF’s Suspension of Military Action (SOMA) declarations.

Montesa said the two-day special meeting was cordial and ended on a high note, with both parties expressing desire to restore trust and confidence in addressing major issues.

A Joint Statement was signed at the conclusion of the meeting, affirming both sides’ commitment to sustain both the SOMO and SOMA, acknowledging the MOA-AD as an initialed and yet unsigned document with both parties agreeing to reframe the consensus points and move towards a final peace agreement.

It was learned that both parties also agreed to work on frameworks for establishing a mechanism designed to protect non-combatants in armed conflict and an International Contact Group (ICG) of states and non-state organizations that will accompany and mobilize international support for the peace process.

Seguis took serious note of the concern of the MILF on the implication of the exclusion from the SOMO of some MILF commanders tagged as “rogues” by the Government.

“While we are happy that the talks are back on track, the challenge to bring a durable peace in Mindanao remains. Let us not waver in our commitment and resolve to finish the task,” said Montesa.

In a related development, British Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Beckingham Thursday said the British government is prepared to provide support to the peace process in Mindanao.

"We are willing and stand ready to offer support, advice, assistance and more to the Mindanao peace process, as long as both the Philippine government and the MILF felt that would be welcome," Beckingham said.

“It's quite clear that [displaced persons in Mindanao] live in uncomfortable conditions, conditions which shouldn't happen, and the only way those conditions could improve is if the peace process starts again," he said.

Beckingham was given the Honorary Title of Datu and Adopted Son by Sultan Manman II, the Sultanate of Bagu-Inged, Tawlan, Darussallam for his significant contributions to the development in Mindanao earlier this month.

The British government funded the traveling expenses of MILF representatives to Northern Ireland earlier this month. The MILF representatives held discussions with Northern Ireland experts involved in the peace process that led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998.

"We were delighted that the MILF accepted our invitation to travel to Northern Ireland and London. And we think that, in a small way, marks a significant step in the [peace] process," Beckingham said.

"I've spoken to my successor, and I know that he intends to continue to be committed to the process that we have started in working with the Ulama, with local government units and other organizations here in Mindanao," he said.

Beckingham served as British Ambassador to the Philippines since January 2005 and will end his term this August.