Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Duterte, Misuari eye ‘bigger’ meetings –­ Go

From the Manila Times (Aug 27, 2019): Duterte, Misuari eye ‘bigger’ meetings –­ Go

President Rodrigo Duterte met anew with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari to advance the peace process in Mindanao, his former top aide Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said on Monday.


President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chats with Moro National Liberation Front Founding Chairman Nur Misuari at a meeting at the Malacañan Palace on March 19, 2019.

The meeting between Duterte and Misuari took place in Davao City on Friday night. The two agreed to meet again with “bigger groups” to further discuss the peace agenda, Go said.

“Siguro parang panel na ‘yung makikipag-usap on both sides kung papaano ipagpatuloy ‘yung kapayapaaan sa Mindanao. Tutulong po si Nur Misuari (Maybe panels from both sides will hold talks on how to sustain peace in Mindanao. Nur Misuari will continue to help),” he added.

It was Duterte’s fourth meeting with Misuari this year. They met in Malacañang on February 25, March 19 and July 9.

The Duterte administration is exploring the possibility of creating a regional government in areas under the influence of the MNLF.

The President had repeatedly expressed hope of reaching an agreement with Misuari, who warned of war should government fail to pursue a shift to federalism.

Early this month, Duterte said he was hoping that Misuari would accept “the same terms” given to Murad Ebrahim, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim chief minister.

BARMM was created through the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, a product of peace negotiations between the government and MILF.

The MILF split from the MNLF in the 1980s over leadership disagreements.

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