Hugpong Federal Movement inks partnership with MNLF

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 8): Hugpong Federal Movement inks partnership with MNLF

The Hugpong Federal Movement has forged a partnership with the Moro National Liberation Front in one-on-one talks between chairman Nur Misuari and Hugpo national legal counsel Joel Obar Monday night in Manila.

Obar said the partnership is geared towards the advancement of the federal movement, in quoting President Rodrigo Duterte as saying “no one should be left behind.”

This is the reason why government is talking to rebel forces and was fortunate to be given the chance to talk with Misuari who is very emotional and sensitive as far as the Sabah claim is concerned. They believe that the only means to reclaim their old Sultanate of Sulu is through a federal form of government, he added.

During the talks, Obar said Misuari threw his full support to the Federal Movement and even suggested that the definition of the territory of the Moro State should include Sabah and Sarawak, which legally and historically belong to the Sultanate of Sulu.

Obar said it's been more than half a century struggle of the Moros before they can see the light of independence via Federal form of government.

Hugpong Federal Movement is very thankful of the all-inclusive support of the MNLF, Obar told Misuari.

On the other hand, Hugpong Federal Movement has also forged ties with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation for a transfer of technology, knowledge and experience and lessons from the German model of a federal government.

The first lesson that Hugpong Federal Movement learned from the talks is that the people had already refused a centralized power by Hitler during the war and moved to a federal state.

The same is happening in the Philippines where regions really wanted more freedom, and more autonomy to develop their own resources, Obar said.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/December/08/negor3.htm