CHIEF PEACE NEGOTIATOR University of the Philippines law dean Marvic Leonen explains his new role. LYN RILLON

 MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III has assembled a new panel to negotiate peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and ruled out at the outset the establishment of a separate territory that the secessionist group demanded during the Arroyo administration.

The President has instructed the new team to “review the past agreements and recommend how we can move...