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Peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, resumed Thursday in Malaysia.
In the 39th round of formal exploratory talks, both sides will discuss power-sharing and normalization, the two remaining annexes of the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro, according to government's chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.
"In this round, we will prove that we have not been waylaid by these groups' destructive, desperate ways," she said.
Ferrer was alluding to the recent spate of bombings in southern Philippines, which were allegedly perpetrated by sectors which were out to derail the peace process.
"Violence is not strength. It reflects a weakness in ideas, a lack of strength in the moral persuasiveness of one's beliefs and causes," she said.
Prior to the ongoing talks, the 38th round of negotiation was held last month and signed the annex on wealth-sharing.
Both sides hope to complete the signing of four annexes of the framework as well as the comprehensive peace agreement as soon as possible.
The pact will pave the way for the formation of a Bangsamoro entity that will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and will end the more than four decades armed struggle in southern Philippines.
