The government should pursue attempts to find peace in a long-running regional Muslim dispute despite armed rebels rejecting a deal, a Catholic leader said today.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resumed discussions in Kuala Lumpur with the Philippine government on August 22 but turned down yesterday’s new offer of a “3-in-1” deal.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue, said there are other groups willing to discuss peace in Mindanao, where MILF has been fighting the authorities for several years.

“We should not be dependent on [the government and MILF] negotiating peace panels,” Archbishop Ledesma said.

“On the ground, Christian and Muslim communities are also really aspiring for a lasting peace process,” he added.

We should widen the peace constituency. We should listen and consult local, grassroots communities,” he said.

Marvic Leonen, chief government peace negotiator, said MILF refused to accept a 20-page proposal submitted by the government because it made no mention of the word “sub-state.”

Leonen said the government used the word “autonomy” because of the “negative connotation” of the word “sub-state.”

He said the government will still continue with its consultations with various sectors of society to explain the government proposal.