MANILA, Philippines -- Taking a shift in strategy in peace negotiations, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced on Thursday that the government would no longer negotiate with armed groups until they give up their weapons and would instead directly talk to communities.

While saying that her administration remains committed to pursue peace, Arroyo said the "focus of talks" would now shift "from armed groups to communities."

However, Arroyo?s adviser on the peace process, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., was quick to dismiss reports that the change in tack would mean a cancellation of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

?There is no such thing as cancellation of the MOA,? Esperon told reporters in a chance interview at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) in Camp Aguinaldo.

?Canceling the MOA would be tantamount to setting aside all the efforts of the peace panels since 2001,? Esperon said, adding that the government would ?never give up on peace.?

But in her speech at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Arroyo admitted that "recent developments in the south have led to a change in the basic premise of our peace efforts. The focus of our talks shall shift from the armed groups to the communities."

In a separate news conference in Malacañang, Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio said the decision to shift strategy in the talks came from recommendations from officials during the National Security Cluster meeting in Malacañang during meetings Monday and Tuesday, which the President presided over.

"The parameters governing our negotiations shall be a balance between constitutionality and public sentiments. The objective of our peace processes shall be the end of all forms of armed rebellion in the country," Arroyo said.

"Translated, this shall mean a national rejection of armed struggle as a means of achieving political and societal change and reaffirming our commitment to democracy," she said.

In light of the Mindanao attacks, the President said, "Engagements with all armed groups shall be about disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation or DDR.
From negotiations, our focus shall shift to dialogues with the communities or government conducting authentic conversations or dialogue with the people."

She said that DDR would be "about the people and government telling armed groups to give up armed struggle."

"Changes shall be defined primarily by the people and the government," she added.

Arroyo also demanded that armed groups be accountable for their actions.

"The force of arms does not entitle any armed group to represent the people," she said.

Despite this new strategy, Arroyo stressed that the government was "not at war with the Muslim community."

Asked if disarmament of the MILF fighters was a requirement before government negotiates anew with the group, Claudo said, ?I think it's really obvious enough as I said that honest negotiation can become effective only in the atmosphere of peace and tranquility and this is the necessity for disarmament, we can't allow a situation where we undertake peace process and the parties concerned are taking up arms.?

He continued, ?Ang sa Presidente naman is ang pagdidiin na makakapagpatuloy lamang ang proseso ng negosasyon, ang proseso ng pakikipagtungo ng ating pamahalaan [As far as the President is concerned, what is important is the negotiation process, the process of relating with the government], the process of dealing with the government with our counterpart in the MILF with a sheer demonstration of sincerity and goodwill.?

Claudio said the ?most basic demonstration of such sincerity and goodwill? would be the ?disarmament and the pursuit of elements who are responsible for any forms of banditry and criminal acts in the areas concerned so that they can be brought to justice.?

Newly-elected officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who joined Claudio in the news conference in Malacañang, said they were supporting the President's move on the MILF, but acknowledged that disarmament would be difficult.

"Mahirap iyan [That is difficult]," said ARMM Governor Zaldy Puti Uy Ampatuan. "Kung hindi mahirap kausapin ang MILF eh bakit gumagawa sila ng ganyan [If it is not difficult to talk to the MILF, then why are they like that]."

The ARMM officials earlier on Wednesday took their oath and met with Arroyo in Malacañang.

The officials issued a manifesto of support for the peace process and condemnation of the violence in Mindanao and called on the MILF to take full responsibility for the atrocities against civilians.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the senseless murder of innocent civilians, the wanton destruction of properties and the heartless disruption of the livelihood of many of our brothers in Mindanao," the officials said.

"We call on the MILF leadership to take full responsibility for the criminal acts committed by some elements of the MILF and to help bring these elements to justice," they added.

Arroyo's statement came amid attacks by renegade forces of the MILF in North Cotabato, Saranggani, and Lanao del Norte provinces, which was blamed on the aborted signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain between the government and the MILF.

On Wednesday, the government called for further review of the accord following criticisms by several sectors and views by justices that there were provisions in the accord that were unconstitutional.

Arroyo's strategy to talk to communities was similar to the one she employed with the communist rebels. After peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines collapsed in September 2004, Arroyo adopted the same strategy of pursuing talks with breakaway groups of the CPP and organizing dialogues with communities led by local government units through the local peace assemblies.

She also issued an executive order last year offering amnesty to rebels who wanted to return to the fold of the law. Congress, however, has yet to pass a resolution to make it effective.