DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari no longer has the power to wage war against the government.
“They (MNLF) are still capable of creating trouble like what they did in the Zambo siege. But war? Not anymore. He no longer has the manpower as most of his men have gravitated to the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao),” Lorenzana said.
“Misuari’s threat is just sound bites in an attempt to make himself be noticed. But he is missing a great chance to be really relevant. He should accept the BARMM, work within it and lend his leadership, stature and expertise to make it succeed,” Lorenzana added.
He was reacting to the report that Misuari threatened to declare war against the government if Congress fails to enact a shift to the federal system, which they said was an undelivered promise of the late President Corazon Aquino.
Lorenzana said he believed Misuari was just “bluffing.”
The Zamboanga siege erupted on September 9, 2013 when MNLF attempted to raise their flag at the Zamboanga City Hall and occupied several barangays.
Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced while over 300 soldiers, rebels and civilians were killed in the standoff that lasted for at least 19 days. (SunStar Philippines)