The Aquino administration revealed on Saturday that it was in the process of forming its negotiating panels that would pursue the government’s quest to end the armed conflict with communist insurgents and Muslim separatists.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said a peace panel that would thresh out political differences with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) would be “in place before the end of the month.”

Deles admitted that the peace process with the CPP-NPA-NDF is “still hanging” after a previous demand for the Arroyo government to release more rebel negotiators and consultants from jail and provide them immunity from criminal prosecution.

In an interview over DzRB, Deles said the Aquino government would like to see the “reconstitution of the peace panels as well as the comprehensive review of the current policies to identify the problems and challenges encountered in the past.”

She said those who will be joining the panel, who are experienced in peace negotiations and knowledgeable of the situation on the ground, are expected to do their homework in reviewing the status of the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Deles said she has the shortlist of the government’s peace negotiators that will be presented to the President, even as she assured that those in the shortlist represent the concerned sectors in the peace process.

She also cited the need to immediately jumpstart the peace negotiation with the MILF.

Next week, she will be meeting with the President to discuss the shortlist of names of the negotiators and possibly, identify who will head as the peace chief negotiator with the Muslim rebels.

Deles said the appointed chief negotiator will be helping in forming the peace negotiating team.

The MILF has deactivated its peace panel, while it is awaiting the Aquino government to complete the reactivation of its own panel. It is counting on President Aquino to fulfill his promise of addressing the armed conflict in the South in a just and peaceful settlement.

Deles said the President wanted that while there are negotiations, the peace dividends will be already felt by the affected communities through the effective and efficient delivery of basic services, particularly in areas of education and health.

“We don’t have to wait for the negotiations to effect changes in the lives of the communities,” she said.

The peace lady chief said she is in constant touch with the heads of concerned agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure the delivery of services to the affected communities.

She said professionalism in the military to aid the government’s continued quest for peace is among the priority of the President.

She also cited the important role of the local government units in forging peace in Mindanao.

The peace panel team currently negotiating with the MILF is headed by Ambassador Rafael E. Seguis.

Earlier, Seguis promised to help in the peace efforts to be initiated by Deles “in efforts of achieving peace and prosperity for all in Mindanao.”

“We will be doing a lot of work in the coming weeks,” she said. (With a report from Francis T. Wakefield)