MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government peace panel on Sunday expressed "serious concern" over the reported looming break up of the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"The government panel views the reported resignation of a known commander of the MILF with serious concern and look forward to a clarification from the MILF panel during the meeting of the parties on Feb. 9 and 10," government chief negotiator with the MILF Marvic Leonen said.

Meanwhile, Leonen said the government remains careful not to take any public position on the issue that may unduly complicate the current situation.

"Suffice it to say, we are negotiating for a comprehensive political settlement within the soonest possible time. Implied in this desire is the understanding that both parties can deliver a just and lasting peace," he said.

MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim admitted that there is an internal problem involving MILF's 105th Base Commander Ameril Umbra Kato, who resigned from his post and expressed intention to come up with its own MILF military unit.

In a video that came out, Kato enumerated some of the issues he raised against the MILF that included the alleged revisionist policy of the current leadership headed by Murad in abandoning the front's original stance of independence and that he was arbitrarily booted out of command.

The MILF leadership has assured of resolving the problem as Murad said that the MILF Central Committee had already sent its three most senior members to talk to Kato and "they reported back with some good development."

The MILF has been fighting government troops for decades to establish a self-rule Muslim state in the south of the predominantly Catholic country. Peace talks between the government and the MILF remain stalled since August 2008 following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.

Nevertheless, efforts are being undertaken by both sides to revive the talks. A final peace deal with the government will touch the issues of autonomy and the civil settlement of the rebel group's 11,800-strong guerrilla fighters.