Owing to his trust and respect for President Duterte, Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari has pledged his steadfast support to the government’s efforts in advancing peace in Mindanao.
Misuari made the pledge to the President in Malacañang after being delighted to gain his “temporary” freedom following the suspension of an arrest warrant against him.
“Allow me to reiterate my sense of gratitude to the President and my promise that should he need our cooperation in his campaign for peace, you can count on us Mr. President,” Misuari said in his remarks at the Palace.
Misuari earlier came out of hiding after a court suspended a warrant arrest in connection with his alleged involvement in the deadly Zamboanga City siege in 2013. Some government officials fetched Misuari in Jolo, Sulu and brought him to Manila for a historic meeting with the President in the Palace.
Misuari admitted that he was “happy to be free again,” thanking the President for his role in bringing his temporary liberty.
He also described the President as the “man who I respect and trust,” adding he could never reject an invitation from Duterte to talk peace “because I respect him too much.”
“I believe, as I said during the campaign, there is one single man who can provide solutions to the problem of peace and order in our homeland of Mindanao,” he said.
The President welcomed “with great happiness” Misuari’s decision to talk peace with the government. He assured Misuari that there was no intention to deprive him of his liberty.
Duterte earlier invited Misuari to hold a dialogue about the peace process in Mindanao, assuring the fugitive leader that he would be given safe passage by the government. He recognized Misuari’s key role in bringing peace to the troubled south.
“There is the pending warrant which is lifted now upon my orders so that we can talk and I would like to assure Nur, brother Nur, that there was never any intention to deprive you of your liberty,” Duterte said.
He also asked Misuari to work with him and other Moro brothers in creating a “country that is really, that is just and that is good and that would be for the next generations to come.” (GENALYN D. KABILING)
