MANILA, Sept. 3 -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the dissolution of the government panel holding talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a drastic shift of negotiating policy from one that is focused on dialogues with rebels to authentic negotiations with the affected communities and stakeholders.

The President has “ordered a new paradigm on the peace process by mandating that henceforth, peace negotiations shall be refocused from one that is centered on dialogue with rebels to one of authentic dialogues with the communities and stakeholders who will formulate and determine, together with government, the enhanced roadmap for the peace process,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a statement this afternoon. Under this paradigm on the peace process, any “negotiation with armed groups will be in the context of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR),” Ermita said.

“The President has ordered that the government peace panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) be dissolved to re-align all the peace initiatives in accordance with the new policy,” he said. He pointed out that all other existing peace initiatives with other armed groups should comply with the new presidential directive, adding that Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon has been directed to undertake a thorough review of all peace initiatives of the government.

Covered by this review are six peace initiatives of the government, namely:
-- The GRP-MILF peace talks.
-- The stalled peace negotiations with CPP-NPA-NDF.
-- The implementation of the GRP-MNLF peace agreement of 1996.
-- The status of past GRP-MILF interim Agreements.
-- The implementation of the GRP-RPM-ABB Agreement and
-- The GRP-CPLA Agreement of 1986 and applicable provisions of RA 9054.

“Results of such review will be the bases of an enhanced and new roadmap on the Peace Process to be submitted to the President, through the Executive Secretary for consideration and approval,” Ermita said. He explained that the new peace paradigm “reiterates the President’s guidance contained in the Memorandum of Instruction issued on 2 September 2003 to the GRP Peace Panel.” "The President has directed that the highest respect for our Muslim brothers and sisters be afforded them during the month of Ramadan and utmost consideration be given by our law enforcement agencies to the unhampered observance of the tradition by peace-loving Mindanaoans,” said Ermita. He said that the President has “also directed that massive relief and rehabilitation efforts be undertaken by the government agencies, with the assistance of private sector groups and the donor community.”

The massive relief effort shall “address the needs of our Mindanao residents who are adversely affected by the ongoing law enforcement campaign to neutralize and bring to the folds of the law the MILF lawless groups who attacked the civilian communities,” said Ermita. He explained that the President is confident that Mindanaoans would be one with government in the quest for an end to the vicious cycle of violence and poverty in some parts of Mindanao.
“Underlying all this is the adherence to the rule of law, primacy of the Philippine Constitution and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity,” Ermita said