MANILA, Philippines -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership rejected what it said was a proposal by the chair of the government’s peace panel for talks prior to the resumption of formal peace negotiations, the head of the secessionist group’s peace panel said.

In an interview, Mohagher Iqbal said an emissary last month relayed the alleged request from his government counterpart, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, for an audience with him.

Iqbal said he denied the request, telling the emissary that all matters regarding the resumption of the peace talks should pass through the third-party facilitator, Malaysia.

“There is a facilitator, and if the government has any plans regarding the peace talks, including resumption, then they should pass it through the Malaysian facilitator,” Iqbal said.

This includes all concerns or objections of the government regarding the MILF’s precondition for the resumption of the peace negotiations should be discussed with the Malaysian facilitators.

The MILF has insisted that government sign the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD), which will pave the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, before it agrees to resume peace talks.

Iqbal said is not aware that the MILF leadership has agreed to resume negotiations without the signing of the MOA-AD.

The talks between government and MILF broke down after the Supreme Court stopped the signing of the MOA-AD in August last year and subsequently declared the accord unconstitutional.

The junking of the agreement also triggered resumed hostilities between government troops and the MILF.

“The two parties must settle the issue of MOA-AD, because for the MILF it’s a done deal, and for the government, it’s no deal and unconstitutional. So the two parties must settle that before they can talk,” Iqbal said.

He added that the agenda for revived peace talks should also be agreed on.

“How could you talk if there are no guidelines, if there is no basis? Even in an ordinary meeting, there has to be an agenda, how much [more] for a negotiation?” Iqbal asked.