SINGAPORE?Taking its cue from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Malacañang on Saturday pressed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to sign a peace agreement within six months or before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo steps down.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde expressed doubt that the Moro rebels could strike a deal with the next administration considering the present crop of presidential and vice presidential aspirants. He particularly cited former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III, and Sen. Mar Roxas.

?It?s better for the MILF to seal a peace deal with this administration because this administration has demonstrated very consistently its desire to achieve equitable, genuine, and lasting peace in Mindanao?something that the MILF cannot be assured of in the next administration,? he said told reporters on the sidelines of Ms Arroyo?s participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum here.

Remonde noted Estrada?s position on resuming his previous ?all-out? war in Mindanao, Roxas? being ?very vocal on the (MILF) issue in the past, and with us not knowing how (Aquino) really wants to pursue this issue.?

His seemingly sardonic remark on Aquino triggered laugher during the press briefing held at the Carlton Hotel.

Remonde was expressing Malacanang?s interpretation of Clinton?s statement that the ?conditions for peace are ripe? during the remaining six months of the Arroyo administration.

?What I have often found is that it is easier to make the difficult decisions when you are on the way out of office. Because you know what is at stake and you are willing to brave the political fires,? Clinto said in a forum in Manila on Friday.

Remonde said Clinton?s message did not necessarily put pressure on the Philippine government to strike a deal with the MILF.

?The statement [was] not really addressed to the Philippine government,? he said. ?The statement [was] really more addressed to the MILF.?

Remonde said Clinton was speaking on the basis of her husband?s experience in trying to forge a Middle East peace settlement.

?Her husband Bill Clinton was pushing for the peace process in the Middle East, but then the Palestine Liberation Organization under Yasser Arafat was reluctant and was trying to push for more demands,? he said.

?When Clinton was already out of office, Yasser Arafat called Clinton [saying] he was already willing to make a peace deal. Clinton said, ?I?m no longer president.??