‘Misuari incapable of waging war’

From the Manila Times (Mar 25, 2019): ‘Misuari incapable of waging war’

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari is no longer capable of waging war because he has lost most of his men to other groups, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

“They (MNLF) are still capable of creating trouble like what they did in the Zamboanga City siege. But war? Not anymore,” Lorenzana told reporters in a text message over the weekend.

He was referring to the incident in Zamboanga in 2013 when the MNLF, under Misuari’s supervision, battled soldiers. The clashes left more than 200 people dead.

The Defense chief said Misuari no longer had manpower since most of his followers had “gravitated” to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

President Rodrigo Duterte last week said the MNLF leader threatened to wage war if the plan to shift to a federal system of government does not push through.

Lorenzana dismissed Misuari’s threat as mere “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,” the Defense chief said.
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“My guess [on his threat]? He’s bluffing,” he added.

The military echoed the stand of Lorenzana.

Col. Noel Detoyato, military public affairs chief, pointed out that the BOL won in Mindanao overwhelmingly, citing that it should be prepared for by the military as well.

“He will go to war, with whom? Who is his enemy? He went to Zamboanga [in 2013] and burned things there, who was his enemy back then?” Detoyato said in a ardio interview on Sunday.

Still, Detoyato said the military was ready for war.

“The biggest challenge here is to change the direction of his thinking, if he does not get what he wants, he will go to war. It’s a childish thought that if you do not get what you want, you will throw tantrums,” he added.

“It will no longer work this time since most people now wants peace,” Detoyato said.

Former MNLF chairman Muslimin Sema said there was no reason to threaten war” as he cited the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) signed by the MNLF and the Philippine government.
“While federalism may be a solution to the Bangsamoro issue, the 1996 FPA does not provide for it but merely for meaningful autonomy and the integration of our fighters to the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” Sema said in a statement.

“There is no valid reason to make threats of war, veiled or otherwise. War is not a child’s play and already considered uncivilized,” Sema stressed.

“Our people has been through to so much violence and displacement. It is time we truly give them not only peace of mind but more importantly the chance to rebuild their lives and enjoy the dividends of peace,” he added.

https://www.manilatimes.net/misuari-incapable-of-waging-war/530496/