Malacañang on Saturday welcomed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s commitment to peace talks as it expressed confidence that both the MILF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) stand ready to carry on with the peace process.

“We welcome that,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Saturday, following news reports that the MILF clarified that it is committed to peace in Mindanao.

Earlier, news reports had said that the MILF is ready to wage war against the government if peace talks will not be immediately resumed. MILF

Chairman Al-Haj Murad had said in a press conference earlier this week that the MILF is not “optimistic” about the resumption of the talks after the ongoing holy month of Ramadan and had warned that it is ready to resume the armed conflict.

Lacierda, however, said the statement had just been blown out of proportion.

“We know that the general statement of the MILF is that it welcomes the peace process. In fact, (Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles knows that the MILF is also looking forward to the peace process so we welcome that clarification made by the MILF,” Lacierda said.

“That’s the reason he’s very, very confident the MILF is willing to undergo the peace process. Magandang naipaliwanag at na-clarify ng MILF ang kanilang position sa peace process [It was good that the MILF was able to explain and clarify itsr stand on the peace process,” he added.

In a related development, Lacierda said the revamp in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has nothing to do with former President Arroyo’s close association with Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’78.

Lacierda said the revamp is just part of the ongoing efforts to improve the system within the AFP.

“Patuloy ang kanilang sinasagawang paglilipat-lipat for their own reasons. Walang bahid politika. Ito lamang ay to improve the system within the AFP [It is undergoing a reshuffle not for political reasons, but for the purpose of improving the system within the AFP],” Lacierda said.

He said Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue’s replacement as the chief of the AFP’s National Regional Command is also from PMA Class ’78, Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero.

Angue will now head the Naval Forces of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom).