Owing to his trust and respect for President Duterte, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari has pledged his steadfast support to the government’s efforts in advancing peace in Mindanao.

Misuari made the pledge to the President in Malacañang after being delighted to gain his temporary freedom following the suspension of an arrest warrant against him.

“Allow me to reiterate my sense of gratitude to the President and my promise that should he need our cooperation in his campaign for peace, you can count on us, Mr. President,” Misuari said in his remarks at the Palace.

Misuari had earlier came out of hiding after a court suspended a warrant arrest in connection with his alleged involvement in the deadly Zamboanga siege in 2013. Some government officials, led by by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, fetched Misuari in Jolo, Sulu and brought him to Manila for a historic meeting with the President in the Palace.

Misuari admitted that he was “happy to be free again,” thanking the President for his role in bringing his temporary liberty.

He also described the President as the “man who I respect and trust,” adding he could never reject an invitation from Duterte to talk peace “because I respect him too much.”

“I came here to meet the President, the man who I respect and trust,” Misuari said.

“I believe, as I said during the campaign, there is one single man who can provide solutions to the problem of peace and order in our homeland of Mindanao,” he said.

The President, meantime, welcomed “with great happiness” Misuari’s decision to talk peace with the government. He assured Misuari that there was no intention to deprive him of his liberty.

Duterte had earlier invited Misuari to hold a dialogue about the peace process in Mindanao, assuring the fugitive leader that he would be given safe passage by the government. He recognized Misuari’s key role in bringing peace to the troubled south.

“There is the pending warrant which is suspended now upon my orders so that we can talk and I would like to assure Nur, brother Nur, that there was never any intention to deprive you of your liberty,” Duterte said.

He also asked Misuari to work with him and other Moro brothers in creating a “country that is really, that is just and that is good and that would be for the next generations to come.”

“I assure you, I said, as you have narrated, we will come up with the modality and then of course, how to place us in our proper homeland, our Mindanao, and that we will talk about the Bangsamoro Authority,” he added.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said criminal proceedings against Misuari have been suspended to allow the resumption of peace talks with the rebel group. He stressed that the warrant of arrest against him was not lifted, but only suspended.

Misuari is facing non-bailable charges of rebellion and violation of Republic Act 9851, the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) in connection with the 2013 Zamboanga siege.

“Proceedings were only suspended.  Thus, implementation of warrant of arrest against Misuari was suspended,” stated Aguirre.

In a resolution dated October 27, Judge Ma. Rowena Modesto-San Pedro of Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 158 granted the request of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to suspend the proceedings and the enforcement of the arrest warrants.

“The Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies are hereby directed to suspend, as well, the enforcement of the Warrants of Arrest issued against accused Nur Misuari,” read the resolution.

The judge indicated that the suspension of proceedings is only for a period of six months starting from the issuance of the resolution.(With a report from Jeffrey G. Damicog)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn D. Kabiling

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