Saying that terrorists can never operate with impunity anywhere in the country, Malacañang today revealed that mechanisms were being worked out through the peace process to box out terrorist cells and render them vulnerable to interdiction.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said Malacañang was confident that the MILF would continue to live up to its commitment to assist the government fight terrorism.

Among the commitments made by the MILF under the GRP-MILF joint communiqué signed in 2002 was that it would rid its ranks of terrorists.

Bunye’s statement came amid reports that MILF factions opposed to the peace process were giving sanctuary to Jemaah Islamiyah, the Indonesia-based terrorist group with links to al Queda.

These MILF factions are reportedly operating outside the main MILF leadership umbrella of Al Haj Murad, who is unaware of the situation.

Bunye said that the government’s strategy to isolate terrorist cells "combines grassroots vigilance, regional intelligence and information sharing and ceasefire mechanisms."

Formal peace talks between the government and MILF are expected to resume next month in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has vowed full support for the resumption of the peace talks that hope to end the decades’ old Mindanao conflict. Kuala Lumpur is hosting the negotiations.

Last Friday, a nine-man team of Malaysian officials arrived in Manila to observe the ongoing ceasefire in Mindanao and look into the status of development projects in the areas affected by the conflict. The Malaysian team is part of a 60-man International Monitoring Group that will monitor compliance with the peace process.