MANILA, Philippines -- Despite threatening statements from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez maintained the government will pursue peace but will not concede its position on the ticklish issue of ancestral domain, which has stalled peace talks with the secessionist group.

"The government is serious in pursuing the peace talks but we cannot compromise the integrity of the national territory," Gonzalez said.

"No President can violate the Constitution," he added.

The MILF wants more than 1,000 villages included in a “Bangsamoro homeland” but the government is willing to recognize only some 600 villages and maintains approval of the homeland will need to undergo Constitutional processes.

Last month, Malaysia, blaming the government for the lack of progress in the talks, announced it was pulling out its contingent form the International Monitoring Team(IMT), which monitors implementation of a ceasefire between the MILF and the military, after August 31.

Malaysia is also the third party facilitator of the peace talks.