Malacañang said it intends to seek deeper talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after it suspended the decommissioning of its remaining combatants and weapons.

"Makikipag-usap po ng mas masinsinan, para po mas maging maganda ang resulta (We will engage them in deeper talks to achieve better results)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said when asked what the government is planning to do after the decommissioning delay.

The MILF has suspended the decommissioning of its remaining combatants and weapons until the government complies with the Annex of Normalization under the peace deal between the two parties in 2014.

Castro said it was sad news, considering the government has allocated funds for the reintegration of combatants to civilian life.

"Medyo nakakalungkot po na balita iyan, dahil alam naman po natin na ang gobyerno po ay talagang naglalaan ng pondo para sa magandang kinabukasan ng mga nagnanais na bumalik at magkaroon ng normal na buhay (That is somewhat saddening news because we know that the government truly allocates funds to ensure a better future for those who wish to return and live a normal life)." Castro said.

The MILF, however, said that out of the 26,145 decommissioned MILF members, “not a single one has successfully undergone ‘transition to productive civilian life,’ as other interventions for decommissioning have essentially not been provided, save for the P100,000 per combatant.”

At present, a total of 26,145 MILF combatants had been decommissioned, representing 65 percent of the group’s total strength.