MNLF says Misuari met Pamatong on BBL issue

From the Manila Standard Today (Sep 23): MNLF says Misuari met Pamatong on BBL issue

MORO National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari again rejected a suggestion for him to appear before a congressional hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, saying the government already “knows everything there is to know” about his views on the matter.

Lawyer Elly Pamatong, who is out on bail for scaterring spikes along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in 2004, said he met the MNLF leader at his hideout in Mount Tumantangis in Sulu last week.

He also dispel reports he is representing the government during his talks with Misuari,

“I am an MNLF lawyer and friend of Misuari,” Pamatong said in a telephone interview. “I was trying to convince him to come down and surrender.”

MNLF Spokesman Absalom Cerveza initially thought Pamatong was sent by the government to persuade Misuari to attend the congressional hearing on the Bl, but he later confirmed that Pamatong met with Misuari in Sulu.

“I see no reason for Pamatong going to Jolo. I guess Pamatong was instructed by Congress to go to Jolo and convince Misuari to attend,” Cerveza said.

But Pamatong quoted Misuari as saying that he has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the government’s Framework Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its resulting Comprehensive Agreement on the Bansamoro and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“The GRP knows everything there is to know about my view on the Bangsamoro people and their dream for independence,” Misuari was quoted as saying.

Instead, Misuari said Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on local government, can go to Jolo to conduct the hearing in Jolo.

Cerveza admitted that Misuari called him to ask about the suggestion that he join the congressional hearing, but Cerveza said “it’s very dangerous. There’s no guarantee because the Executive and the Judiciary are in collision.”

Cerveza reiterated that they were not convinced that the government would issue a safe-conduct pass to Misuari, who is wanted for the Seige of Zamboanga City on Sept. 9, 2013 and is now based in Mt. Tumantagis in western Sulu island where he is protected by 30,000 Moro warriors.

But Mindanao leaders continued to urge the government to bring Misuari to the negotiating table because, as MNLF founder, he still has a key role in ensuring peace in Mindanao.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is one such Mindanao leader and he advised Malacañang against belittling Misuari’s capability in helping forge peace in Mindanao.

Duterte made the call came after Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process, Sec. Teresita Deles said congressional consultations on the BBL can still be successful even without the participation of Misuari  who is asking for something that the BBL cannot provide.

Duterte said that Misuari remains to be a force to reckon with when it comes to Mindanao peace.

He reminded the government that Misuari could still compel the Philippine government to make good of its promise based on the Tripoli Agreement it signed decades ago with Misuari.

“I’ve already said before that we should not forget Misuari,” Duterte said on his radio program on Sunday. “For all of his faults, Misuari is still a man to reckon with. Forget the Zamboanga incident for a while, we have to talk with him if you want peace.”

Duterte admittd that he himself have some misgivings on the BBL, particularly on the territorial issues, but he also hopes that the BBL will be enacted into law by Congress for the sake of peace.

“I hold it as an article of faith, the only way you can really attain peace is to go federal. We cannot give you back the land that was taken from you, but allow us to offer you a nation,” the Davao mayor said.

“There has to be a Bangsamoro nation, and to the Misuari side, give them a nation too. Otherwise, we’ll have nothing,” he added.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/09/23/mnlf-says-misuari-met-pamatong-on-bbl-issue/