PRESIDENT DUTERTE said he would offer former rebel chieftain Nur Misuari and his Moro National Liberation Front a similar peace deal the government signed with rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Duterte, speaking at a religious television show in Davao City, said he would offer Misuari the same concession the government gave to the MILF, whose chieftain Ahod Ebrahim is now the Chief Minister of the newly-formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Misuari was previously the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. He launched a rebellion in Sulu and Zamboanga City in 2001 and another in 2013 after being unseated as regional governor.
Nur Misuari (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Duterte said he hope to sign a new peace deal with Misuari despite warrants for his arrest in connection to deadly attacks in Sulu and Zamboanga. He said he is ready to offer Misuari the same structure of government and concession.
Misuari had openly opposed the government’s peace talks with the MILF and the BARMM and insisting the MNLF signed a deal with Manila in September 1996 that led to the creation of the Muslim autonomous region which was abolished this year to pave way for the new autonomous region under Ebrahim’s rule. But despite the peace accord with the MNLF, Misuari said there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Misuari’s loyal forces and former MNLF rebels who joined the Philippine Army following the peace accord, attacked a key military base in Sulu and civilian targets in Zamboanga in 2001 in an effort to stop the government from calling an election in the autonomous region where Misuari wanted to be a perpetual governor.
Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines. He also ran thrice for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost miserably. And was eventually pardoned and released by then President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support to her election bid as well as her allies in the Senate and Congress in 2004.
Misuari’s loyal forces again attacked Zamboanga City in 2013 and for three weeks security forces battled rebels that left dozens of people dead and wounded. He is also facing graft charges at the Sandigan Bayan over the alleged anomalous purchase of education materials when he was the regional governor of the autonomous region. Misuari denied all criminal and graft accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner and Zamboanga Post.)
https://mindanaoexaminer.com/duterte-offers-misuari-same-deal-concession-as-milf/
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