Ambassador Rafael Seguis, the peace panel chair of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), on Tuesday asserted the importance of the negotiations with the MILF, stressing that "there is no alternative to peaceful dialogue."

He said that the GRP remains steadfast in pursuing negotiations with the MILF

Seguis, President Arroyo's special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), was responding to the Manila Bulletin when asked about his stand on the call of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon on Malacañang to suspend the peace talks because of the role of the MILF in the fighting in Basilan on August 12.

Seguis was in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, yesterday, meeting with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan and other local government officials (LGUs) and peace stakeholders as part of the GRP's consultation process.

He said another objective of the meeting was "to fast track the return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their communities pursuant to Administrative Order No. 267."

Reports said at least 23 soldiers died in the operation launched by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which suffered more than 30 dead, including 10 MILF members.

The AFP has accused the MILF in Basilan of assisting the ASG in the fighting. This prompted Biazon, a former AFP chief of staff, to call for the suspension of the GRP-MILF peace talks.

But Seguis suggest politely disagreed with the senator. Seguis and Mohagher Iqbal, MILF peace panel chair, has brought the peace process on track during their "special meeting" on July 28-29 in Malaysia after the negotiations' collapsed in 2008.

"We are saddened and profoundly concerned by what happened last Wednesday, August 12, in Basilan. Yet there is no alternative to peaceful dialogue," said the GRP chief negotiator.

"With due respect to Senator Biazon, the said unfortunate incident should not be the sole basis for suspension of talks. GRP is still determined to pursue negotiations with the MILF," said Seguis, the undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

He added that the GRP and MILF panels are now laying the groundwork for the formal resumption of the peace talks.