Johari also visited the headquarters of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Rosary Heights District in the Philippines, reported The Philippine Star today.

The IMT has since 2003 helped to oversee the enforcement of an interim ceasefire pact between the MILF and the Philippine armed forces.

It comprises military and police personnel from Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia and non-uniformed conflict resolution experts from Japan and Norway.

Johari lauded the efforts of the team in maintaining the fragile peace in conflict flashpoint areas in southern Mindanao, where there were MILF bastions.

Johari and his entourage arrived from Sandakan in the morning, after which he was briefed by IMT officials led by Malaysian army General Wira Zamrose on the security situation in areas covered by the ceasefire pact.

Johari then proceeded to the MILF bastion at Camp Darapanan, in Sultan Kudarat town in the first district of Maguindanao, to hold a dialogue with senior MILF central committee members on the prospects of the Mindanao peace process.

The Malaysian government is the third party helping to facilitate bilateral peace initiatives between MILF and Malacanang.

The peace talks started on Jan 7, 1997, but gained headway only in 2003 with the help of Malaysia.