PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday, February 26, that he had made "some arrangements" with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Nur Misuari in an effort to boost peace efforts in strife-torn Mindanao.
In a speech delivered in Manila, Duterte said he had yielded to Misuari's request to allow the latter first to travel abroad for pan-Islamic council summits before participating in peace dialogue with his administration.
This developed following Duterte's meeting with Misuari at Malacañan Palace on Monday night, February 25.
"So I had to make some arrangements. Sabi ko, this is a personal request of me, which I do not do at any time, at any other time. Sabi ko, ah palabasin ninyo. Sabi ko, for the sake of -- alam mo na because I still have to craft -- we in government," he said.
(So I had to make some arrangements. I said, this is a personal request of me, which I do not do at any time, at any other time. I said, let him travel overseas for the sake of the government's [efforts in pursuing peace and order in Mindanao] because I still have to craft [a peace deal with Misuari]).
"So he went to see me last night and we... Whenever we see, we embrace each other because I consider him a brother. Tapos sabi niya, 'Papuntahin mo lang ako, babalik ako.' Sabi ko, 'Fine. You have done that several times, you can go.' So nag-courtesy call siya tapos umalis siya," he added.
(So he went to see me last night and we... Whenever we see, we embrace each other because I consider him a brother. And he said, "Allow me to go abroad, I will return home." I said, “Fine. You have done that several times, you can go.” So he paid a courtesy call then left.)
Misuari is on trial before the Sandiganbayan Third Division for two counts each of graft and malversation due to alleged anomalous purchase of P77 million worth of educational material when he was governor of then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
On Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan granted Misuari's motion to travel abroad for his participation in the 46th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in the United Arab Emirates and the meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States in Morocco.
Misuari is scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, February 26, and will proceed to Morocco on March 11, based on his itinerary. He is expected to return to the Philippines between March 17 to 20.
The Moro leader met with Duterte on Monday before leaving the country and amid the supposed rumblings within the MNLF with regard to the unequal distribution of slots in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority a body that will serve as interim government of new Bangsamoro region replacing Armm.
Duterte said he had a received a commitment from Misuari to hold peace negotiations and craft a "new deal" with his government upon his return to the country.
"Iyan, kailangan pa natin ‘yan (We need this). And but they are revolutions driven with territorial intentions or objectives. Ngayon, kung naplantsa mo ‘yan (Now, if we're able to iron out differences) and we are able to talk to them, you must understand Philippine history and the core of what ails this country," he said.
"Kaya sabi ko itong kay Nur, areglo tayo dito. Sabi ni Nur, he is willing to talk and he has waited this long for me to make a decisive decision when he comes back... Sabi ko, time for us to craft a new deal for the MNLF of Misuari," the President added.
(So I said, we'll settle everything with Misuari. Nur said he is willing to talk and he has waited this long for me to make a decisive decision when he comes back... I said, time for us to craft a new deal for the MNLG of Misuari.) (SunStar Philippines)