Philippines, Rebels Fortify Truce Amid Stalled Peace Pact

Manila, Philippines: Philippine government and Muslim rebel negotiators have extended the stay of foreign cease-fire troops in the south at the two sides' first meeting since their peace pact stalled amid fears of a possible renewal of fighting.

Government negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and her rebel counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal, expressed disappointment over the current Congress' failure to enact a Muslim autonomy bill outlined under a peace accord they signed in 2014. They issued their joint statement today after meeting for two days in Malaysia, which brokered the peace deal.

Both sides vowed "to stay the course of peace" and extended by a year the stay of a Malaysia-led contingent that has guarded a years-long cease-fire from being breached in the southern Philippines.