Aquino's strong popularity could help him win support for an accord with the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in contrast to the Malaysian-brokered talks under his unpopular predecessor that collapsed in 2008, government negotiator Marvic Leonen said.
More than 120,000 people have died in the decades-long conflict for self-rule in the southern Mindanao region, homeland of minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.
Nearly nine years of negotiations under former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led to the drafting of a landmark accord that would have given expanded autonomy to a Muslim homeland in 2008. The deal required constitutional amendments and was scuttled by fierce opposition from Christian politicians, who feared losing land and clout to minority Muslims.
Leonen said the Aquino administration will consider the possibility of amending the 1987 constitution if it helps forge lasting peace with the rebels. "If necessary and when acceptable to all the sides, then perhaps an amendment might be possible," he said.
The president was sincere in reaching out to the rebels, Leonen told reporters at a news conference. "A hand extended in peace is a hundred times stronger and a million times more courageous than one that picks up a gun." Leonen said the government wants to resume negotiations with the rebels when the holy Muslim month of Ramadan ends in September. He said a truce has largely held, with only 10 minor skirmishes recorded so far this year.
Rebels continue combat training in the south, a government report recently said. Leonen said that wasn't unusual, adding both sides were focused on resuming negotiations.
Aquino has said efforts to turn around his impoverished Southeast Asian nation will be futile if it continues to be wracked by violent insurgencies.
The difficulty of settling a conflict rooted in problems such as massive poverty was exacerbated by Arroyo's approach to the talks, which were often done in haste and secrecy without consultation with key stakeholders, Leonen said.
Arroyo, now a member of the House of Representatives, was not immediately available for comment. Rafael Seguis, who served as Arroyo's chief negotiator, denied Leonen's comments, saying he consulted with various groups when he headed the talks.
Rebel chief Al-Haj Murad said last week he wanted the insurgency to end in his lifetime but added any future talks would be full of obstacles.
