Thursday, September 1, 2016

On Nur, MNLF: Aguirre says DOJ will follow Duterte’s ‘comprehensive’ stance

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 1): On Nur, MNLF: Aguirre says DOJ will follow Duterte’s ‘comprehensive’ stance

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre told a congressman opposed to the plea bargaining agreement involving 138 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels that the agency has no choice but to follow the government’s thrust for “comprehensive” peace.




“There is a policy that we follow, as the alter ego of the president, we have to follow. And he wanted the faction of Nur Misuari, the MNLF, to be part of the overall peace process,” Aguirre told Zamboanga City 1st district Rep. Celso Lobregat in an almost apologetic tone during the DOJ’s budget presentation before the House Appropriations panel Wednesday night.

That tone stemmed from the fact that Zambaonga became the site of a bloody attack 19-day nearly three years ago that was instigated by a faction of MNLF fighters loyal to Misurai.

The 77-year-old Misuari founded the MNLF and is a former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor. He is now a fugitive, having been charged with rebellion in connection with the 2013 siege.

It’s no secret that Lobregat, a former city mayor, wants Misuari and the rebels to face the law. It can be recalled that 220 people died during the siege–183 rebels, 25 soldiers and 12 civilians. Another 70 local residents were wounded.

The clashes between the MNLF and government troops also displaced 100,000 people, causing a huge humanitarian crisis.

http://www.mb.com.ph/on-nur-mnlf-aguirre-says-doj-will-follow-dutertes-comprehensive-stance/

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