Maguindanao Second District Rep. Simeon Datumanong, who led the delegation, said Friday their meeting with MILF chief Al Haj Ibrahim Murad had the approval of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The meeting which took place days ahead of the scheduled resumption of peace talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“The leadership of the MILF assured us that they are interested to resolve the problem as soon as possible,” he added.

Discussed during the meeting were the question on ancestral domain, demobilization of MILF forces and their integration into the AFP, and the holding of a referendum under the auspices of the United Nations.

Datumanong said their move was not an intervention and that their purpose was to help. He cited that the ancestral domain is a potential problematic issue, recalling that when the Indigenous Peoples' Right Act was enacted its constitutionality was questioned before the Supreme Court.

Seven SC justices voted in favor of the petition and seven voted against it thus the law was upheld.

The congressman said they just wanted to avoid similar situations in the future.