Philippine government negotiators believe they can craft “mutually viable solutions” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, starting Monday, even as they expressed concern over the unilateral “law-enforcement” activities of some MILF members in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

Government panel chairman Marvic Leonen made the statement in his opening remarks at the start of formal exploratory talks, where he urged the MILF to withdraw its armed members from barangays in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, and to coordinate their criminal pursuit activities through the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group.

“We propose that in this round of talks, we focus once more on the substantive issues and explore common grounds. We acknowledge that the issues that we tackle now are the more difficult ones but we are optimistic that we can find mutually viable solutions,” Leonen said.

He raised the concern of the government panel on recent incidents where the MILF reportedly failed to coordinate its pursuit of criminal elements through the ad hoc group or the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.

“We should keep our ground peaceful and avoid provocation that might stir unnecessary violence. Our mechanisms should constantly be reviewed but even in doing so, we should both abide by it. We should do so even while we share in the desire to go against criminal elements within our communities,” Leonen said.

He cited reports, including that on February 4, 2012, elements of the 102nd Base Command of the MILF “have moved and conducted, without coordination through our [ad hoc group] or [coordinating committee] mechanisms, actions that appear to be law-enforcement movements against cattle rustlers and drug traffickers.” Mia Gonzalez

In the light of such reports, he said, “We ask the MILF to withdraw its armed members from these barangays and coordinate–through our [ad hoc group]–so we could do the right thing in the right way.  We know that this concern will be perused and considered by the MILF negotiating panel.”

He said that while the government has urged the MILF to assist in interdicting lawless elements, under existing agreements, “we urge the MILF not to do so unilaterally.”