At least eight Cabinet secretaries of President Aquino, including Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, started meeting Monday with a 22-member peace mission from Mindanao supporting a negotiated settlement of the conflict and the Bangsamoro issue in Southern Philippines.

Members of the tri-people mission -- Christian, Muslim and Lumad -- are in Manila to lobby over various issues and concerns. They comprised 12 community leaders from war-affected areas and 10 representatives of civil society organizations that have consistently advocated peace in Mindanao.

Their lobbying in Manila called "Conversations with Mindanao Grassroots" focuses on the Mindanao peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Their concerns include the fate of the remaining 60,000 internally displaced persons and the state of emergency in Maguindanao, activation of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group and Joint Monitoring Action Team of GRP and MILF, and updates from GRP peace panel chairman Marvic Leonen, dean of UP College of Law, and chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal of the deactivated MILF panel.

The delegation includes Pastor Reu Montecillo, chairman of the Mindanao People's Council (MPC); Ernesto Anasarias, co-convener of Mindanao Solidarity Network; MPC Secretary General and lawyer Mary Ann Arnado; Prelature of Marawi City vicar general Fr. Teresito Suganob; MPC Deputy Secretary General Ustadhz Rahib Kudto; evacuees' leaders Babu Umal Maliganan and Badria Abas; and Bai Liza Saway and Bai Magdalina Herbilla, leaders of Bukidnon's Matigsalog and Talaandig tribes, respectively.