MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday welcomed the appointment of University of the Philippine College of Law dean Marvic Leonen as the government's chief peace negotiator.

"Personally, I think it's a welcome development that he's appointed as chairman of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) peace panel," Mohagher Iqbal, the separatist group's information chief, told ANC's On the Scene.

Iqbal said Leonen seems fit for the position since he has vast knowledge on issues such as indigenous peoples' rights and ancestral domain.

The MILF official, meanwhile, said it will reactivate its peace panel as soon as the Philippine government appoints 4 more members to its peace panel.

"It takes two to tango. The MILF really want the peace process to be finished. Hopefully the MILF and the GRP will move forward, marami na kasing masyadong problema dito sa Mindanao, para ma-settle na ito," he said.

Iqbal said the MILF will remain steadfast in their demands to the government regarding the ancestral domain issue. He said the rebel group has had the same stand when it started talking peace with the government.

The MILF official also clarified that their demand regarding the ancestral domain does not force the government to “violate its own Constitution.”

At a press conference in Malacañang, Leonen assured that the peace panel under his watch will remain faithful to the Constitution.

"We will be in dialogue with MILF to figure out the kind of governance they see, the kind of comprehensive peace agreement they want to see," Leonen said in the same press briefing at the Palace.

Leonen said governance will be key issue that needs to be addressed in securing a peace deal.

"If they want us to recognize and confirm and implement in good faith what the past negotiating panels had agreed to, then we expect the same attitude on their part," he added.