President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday appointed Annabelle T. Abaya as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and expects her to work on possible breakthroughs in the peace negotiations with rebels groups.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Abaya, a member of the government panel negotiating peace with the communist rebels prior to her new appointment, would replace former police cheif Avelino Razon Jr. who recently resigned from the Cabinet to pursue his mayoralty bid in Manila.

Remonde presented the US-educated Abaya as a new addition to the Cabinet during a press conference in Malacañang. Abaya previously served as presidential spokesperson during Ramos' administration.

Abaya, in the same press briefing in the Palace, said she is grateful to join the Arroyo administration in its last eight months and vowed to prioritize the resumption of the government’s peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Abaya remained upbeat about the chances of peace settlement with the two rebel groups within the President's term, adding she will strive her best to meet these goals.

“We are also going to review the peace settlement of 1996 with the MNLF and look at recommendations what we have learned and what is it that we need to change,” she said.

Abaya said her office would also enhance the government’s social integration program that would benefit rebels who return to the fold of law.