President Duterte, Misuari to discuss peace in Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 31): President Duterte, Misuari to discuss peace in Mindanao

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday revealed that he called on Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari for possible talk of the peace process in Mindanao as he ordered law enforcers to hold the serving of his warrant of arrest.

In their telephone conversation Tuesday night, the President said that Misuari opted to meet him in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with the presence of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

“Nag-usap kami kagabi. Gusto niya (Misuari) sa Kuala Lumpur,” the President said after meeting with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“Nur, I have no intention of detaining you or placing you in the custody of the government. You can simply walk out there, ask any soldier and police to escort you. Kung saan ako, mag-usap tayo,” he said.

Emphasizing the years of armed conflict in Jolo which is ongoing, President Duterte said: “Sayang ‘yung pera, sayang ‘yung bala. Ipatay mo rin sa kapwa mo Pilipino. Kung mga komunista pumayag na, baka dito sa panahon ko, kung maawa si Allah, eh ‘di meron tayong magandang kinabukasan.”

To pave the way of their meeting, the President has (ordered) lawmen not to implement the standing warrant against Misuari.

“All I have to do is to not implement it against him because if you arrest Misuari, you place him under the custody of the police diyan sa Crame and he dies for whatever reason, kumpromiso na tayo. Mahirapan na,” the President said, emphasizing that the ongoing government action in battle-torn Jolo is a “punitive action” against lawless elements.

“He’s (Misuari) the only known leader who has the influence and the structure. Nobody else. While dito sa kabila, there’s Murad and Jafaar and the Central Committee of the Bangsamoro, MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front)," the President said, adding “I can go to him, I can go to Jolo if he wants. Or if he wants somebody there, they can bring him back to Davao City or in Manila. He can be my guest in Malacañang, in the People’s Palace, and we can talk there for a while.”

President Duterte openly asked rebel groups in the country to meet with the government to settle differences and end fighting.

The peace negotiations with the CPP/NPA/NDF has pushed through with Chairman Jose Maria Sison in the forefront and hopes to start the talks with the Moro rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=918883