The top leadership of the Saudi-led Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) arrived in Manila on Thursday for a five-day visit to prevent the oldest peace accord in Asia from collapsing following a botched operation by Philippine authorities in Bangsamoro that killed 61 people on both sides.

The OIC delegation, led by its Secretary-General Iyad Madani, met Friday with various Philippine officials involved in the negotiations including the presidential adviser on the peace process, Teresita Quintos Deles.

Madani, making his first visit as OIC head to the Philippines at a crucial stage in the peace process, was welcomed by both parties amid indications that some fighters may join the ISIS or Al-Qaeda if the peace bid fails as result of the collapse of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) abandoned MILF when the Philippine Supreme Court rejected the first agreement known as MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on the Muslim Ancestral Domain).

MILF will not negotiate anymore with the government if this last attempt for peace collapses, said the chief negotiator for the MILF. They also vowed not to surrender their fighters who defended themselves when police special forces attacked their territory to capture a US-wanted terrorist. MILF said the operation was not coordinated with them based on the agreement with the government.

“I believe, it is just the right time for the OIC to show its full support for the passing of BBL so as not to waste several years of peace negotiations between the MILF and the Philippine government,” said Saleh Bucay, secretary-general of the Federation of Maranao Associations in Riyadh (FEMAS).

He said: "So far, this is the only time that a majority of the Bangsamoro people and a considerable large number of non-Muslim groups, including some religious figures, have openly expressed their acceptance of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“I hope that with the involvement of OIC, our leaders who opposed it would change their way of thinking and thereby help in the immediate passing of the BBL without watering it down,” Bucay added.

According to a report, Madani already had a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose country is hosting the marathon peace talks and acting as mediator.

“Since the Malaysian prime minister spearheaded this peace agreement, we want to listen to him on the current status of the agreement,” Madani told Malaysian media before traveling to Manila.

A member of the MILF peace panel was confident of the OIC role in steering the peace talks in the right direction by taking a more active role, said Abdoud Syed Lingga.