Misuari denies asking BIFF to stop peace pact

From the Philippine Star (Oct 26): Misuari denies asking BIFF to stop peace pact

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari yesterday denied asking the radical Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to exert all effort to block the signing of the framework agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last Oct. 15. “I have no contact with Kato’s group,” Misuari said, referring to the BIFF’s head, renegade MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato. BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama claimed on Wednesday that Misuari called him up on his cellphone just before the signing of the agreement and asked him to convince the BIFF leadership to “do everything” to stop the signing before Oct. 15. Misuari, however, said a man claiming to be the spokesman for the BIFF was the one who called him but he denied the request. “I have no authority to order Kato because he is not under MNLF, they are separate group and we do not have any contact with them,” he said. He said there was no attempt on the part of the MNLF to stop the signing since they are not a party to the agreement between the government and the MILF....

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=863824&publicationSubCategoryId=63