While the panels that are negotiating peace have not formally met, they have in fact exchange vital documents that tackle the subjects of security, ancestral domain and political issues, Esperon told the gathering of peacemakers in a recent forum in Davao City.

Esperon arrived in Davao City and briefed Mindanao peace advocates and the business community on the status of the peace negotiation with the MILF at the office of the Mindanao Economic Development Council led by Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana.

Also present were recently freed kidnapped victim Mindanao State University Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao Peace Weavers, East Mindanao Command chief Major General Armando Cunanan and the Japanese Consul based in Davao City.

He said he is looking at September for the resumption of the peace talks, which he expects to be the final negotiation stage leading to a peace accord.

In fact, the MILF has already submitted their counter-proposals and several items have been traced out and already points of consensus had been reached, an optimistic Esperon stressed.

But the former military general aired that what is disturbing is that some militant elements of the MILF have stepped up hostilities and movements outside the perimeter of territories they are allowed to stay.

Esperon emphasized that the recent bombings of power pylons of Transco, ambush on soldiers in Maitum, Sarangani and attacks in several places in North Cotabato and Maguindanao do not augur well for the peace talks.

He expressed hopes that peace advocates and the International Monitoring Teams could intervene to stop these adventures of the rogue elements of the MILF, who could undermine the ongoing peace process.

Both the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front are now talking since the peace agreement between the MILF and the government will impact on the MILF as most of the territories involved in the current peace talks are also within the territorial jurisdiction of the MILF.

Some legal ramifications are being prudently evaluated so as not to impinge on the constitution if we agree on the MILF’s ancestral domain proposal. Very soon, we expect the government and MILF panels will meet to a happy compromise to achieve their unity of purpose, Esperon said.