Malacañang on Saturday expressed optimism that the government’s peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will officially resume “in the next quarter” as it disclosed that it is still in the process of completing the members of the peace panel in an aim to end the 40-year conflict in Mindanao.

“We are hoping that the peace talks would officially start by the next quarter,” Presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita “Ding” Deles said in Filipino an interview over government-run Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

But Deles did not disclose the names of the members who will compose the government peace panel as it is yet to be finalized.

She said the names may be announced within the week, adding that the government is just making sure that it is well-prepared before the peace talks resume.

“Hinahanap natin ay representatives ng major constituency at may malawak na pang-intindi dun sa aayusing problema [We’re looking for members who will represent the major constituency and has broad knowledge of the problems at hand],” she said.

“President Aquino is aiming for a peaceful and just settlement of the armed conflict. We’re expecting that this armed conflict which has a huge impact to our country will be solved in a peaceful way,” she said.

The peace talks will be headed by Atty. Marvic Leonen as the chief negotiator for the Philippine government peace panel.

Also, Deles said that peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) would hopefully begin before the end of the month. She however said the government is not rushing to start the peace talks before President Aquino’s first state of the nation address (SoNA) on July 26.

“But we’re really trying to start the talks as soon as possible,” she said.

Deles admitted that the peace process will not be easy, as she asked for the support of not just the people in Mindanao but the whole country.

“This is a national agenda and whatever happens here will affect the whole country. We’re hoping for the support of the people in the process of resuming talks with the MILF,” she said.

It will be recalled that during the Arroyo administration, the GRP and the MILF had resumed its peace talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec. 8 and 9, 2009 after a postponement in 2008 due to decision released by the Supreme Court (SC) deeming the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) as unconstitutional.

This developed as Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon advised UP College of Law Dean Marvic Leonen, the newly appointed chief negotiator of the government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), to be objtective.

“If he is not that exposed to the places here in Mindanao, I hope he will be more objective with no self-interest. He would just want to move this peace process forward,” Lampon said in an interview with Church-run Radio Veritas 846 last Thursday.

The prelate is also convinced that the peace process will not move forward if there is no sincerity on the part of the government and the MILF. (with report from Edd K. Usman)