PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE has reiterated his offer to former rebel Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari the same peace deal the government granted to rival group Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF.
President Benigno Aquino speaks with MILF rebel chieftain Murad Ebrahim in this 2014 government photo.
Duterte said he is open to the creation of a regional government for Misuari’s group in the southern Philippine province of Sulu which is under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM, whose chief minister is Ahod Ebrahim, the MILF chieftain. Manila signed a peace accord with the MILF in 2014, ending more than three decades of secessionist war in the South.
BARMM Deputy Chief Minister
Carlito Galvez, Duterte’s peace adviser, said they are studying the President’s offer to Misuari, who is facing criminal charges in connection to deadly attacks by his loyal followers in Zamboanga City and Sulu in 2001 and Zamboanga City again in 2013 in a failed rebellion.
To appease Misuari, the government is also looking into possibility of appointing a MNLF leader as Ebrahim’s deputy in BARMM. But this may not sit well with Misuari, who is campaigning for the establishment of a federal government in the country and be one of its ministers.
“We will look into this because we see that the BARMM is subdivided. We have what we call a deputy for the mainland, and then a deputy for Lanao, and then deputy for the BASULTA (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) area. And I believe the MNLF-Misuari group is more predominant in the BASULTA area,” Galvez was also quoted in a news report by the Philippines’ oldest daily, The Manila Times, as saying.
Nur Misuari (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
But Misuari’s stronghold is only in Sulu, although he has small, but heavily-armed fighters scattered in Basilan and in Maguindanao, also in the BARMM. While Ebrahim’s forces are all over in Maguindanao, Basilan and few areas in North Cotabato and Lanao del Sur. It was not immediately known whether political leaders and Muslims in BASULTA would accept Misuari as their regional governor or federal minister.
Federalism
Misuari had previously threatened Duterte that he would go to war if his demand for federalism fails and Defense Secretary Delfin said the ageing MNLF leader and his loyal followers are still capable of creating trouble. “They are still capable of creating trouble like what they did in the Zamboanga City siege. But war? Not anymore,” Lorenzana said, explaining that Misuari no longer has manpower. But Lorenzana’s view of Misuari as incapable of waging war is naïve, according to residents of Sulu where the MNLF continues to maintain thousands of armed members and supporters.
“They cannot just arrest Misuari and that proves the government is incapable of putting him behind bars for his alleged crimes against humanity in so far as the siege in Zamboanga and Jolo. The MNLF is more stronger now and have more weapons, powerful that your ordinary soldiers,” the 60-year old Ibrahim said, describing Misuari’s firepower.
“He may not be as popular as other politicians, but Misuari has this charisma, the way he talks to the people, just like Duterte. They know how to deal with ordinary people and let them believe what he wants to say,” he added.
Lorenzana said Misuari is just bluffing when he threatened the President with war. He dismissed Misuari’s threat as a mere sound bite 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. My guess, he’s bluffing,” Lorenzana said.
Best Friends
In July, Duterte also offered Misuari, his best friend and political ally, the same concession Manila gave to the MILF. 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.
Nur under Duterte’s protection
Misuari’s loyal forces and former MNLF rebels who joined the Philippine Army following the signing of 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 several times for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost miserably. And he was eventually pardoned and released by then President Gloria Arroyo in exchange for MNLF support for 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.
Despite all charges against Misuari, Duterte ordered police and military authorities not arrest the MNLF chieftain and even offered him safe refuge in his hometown in Davao City. Misuari has repeatedly denied all criminal and graft accusations against him.
https://mindanaoexaminer.com/duterte-offers-own-regional-government-to-misuari-mnlf/
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