Duterte heaps praises on Nur Misuari

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 21, 2019): Duterte heaps praises on Nur Misuari

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chair Nur Misuari is a brave patriot and warrior who has an open heart for others, President Duterte said recently.



President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally at the Cagayan Sports Coliseum in Tuguegarao City on April 16, 2019. (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

The President was all praises for Misuari amid government plans to forge a deal with his group to help attain a peaceful Mindanao.

“Iyong si Nur, happily. I supposed that I have always respected him ever since we met 30 years ago. I love the guy,” Duterte said during his recent visit to Cagayan province.

“He is quite patriotic. He is a warrior. He is brave but always he has an open heart for his fellow human being,” he added.

After the new Bangsamoro autonomous region was created after a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Duterte reaffirmed his commitment to talk with Misuari on a proposed territorial structure that will settle any conflict.

“Hopefully I could also craft another structure or a setup or a satisfaction so that maybe the revolutionary government which are — or which is anchored on territoriality, mawala na ‘yan. As long as we are ready to share with the others,” Duterte said.

“Kung sakali, by the grace of God, papayag si Nur with the same setup sa kanyang lugar, baka in the goodness of God’s time, we may be able to have a sort of peaceful Mindanao [If ever by the grace of God, Nur will agree with the same set-up in his place. In the goodness of God’s ties, we may be able to have a sort of peaceful Mindanao],” he added.

The President recently announced that Misuari threatened to go to war if the shift to federalism was not pursued.

Last month, Duterte met with Misuari in Malacañang where the former ARMM governor pressed for the federalism initiative.

The two leaders eventually agreed to create their respective five-member panels to discuss the proposed federalism to avoid a potential conflict in the south.

Duterte however reminded Misuari that the push for federalism must go through the legislative process, and must be done in accordance with the Constitution.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/04/21/duterte-heaps-praises-on-nur-misuari/