President Duterte reassured law enforcers that Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari will return to the Philippines, saying the latter is a revolutionary and not a fugitive.
In a speech in Bangued, Abra Tuesday, Duterte said he intervened to let Misuari go abroad despite the several charges he is facing at the Sandiganbayan.
“He came to see me to ask me to intercede in his behalf that he be given temporary pass to go out kasi may kaso siya eh, ipe-preso siya dito, para maka-attend ng Organization of Islamic Conference,” he said.
Misuari left the country Feb. 26 and is expected to return by March 20. He is reported to travel to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for the OIC summit, and later on to Morocco for the Parliamentary Union of the OIC member-states.
According to Duterte, he told law enforcers to allow Misuari to fly out of the country, assuring them that he will return because the latter does not want to die in a foreign land.
“So I told the military and the police, hayaan niyo na. Babalik ‘yan. He is not a fugitive, he is a revolutionary,” he said.
“And you know what? That guy will always come back. It would be an insult to his person if he is buried in another land. Babalik dito ‘yan, dito magpakamatay,” he added.
Misuari is facing graft and malversation charges over the alleged anomalous purchase of P77 million worth of educational materials when he was governor of the then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Sandiganbayan allowed Misuari to attend the conferences abroad after posting a P920,000 travel bond for the trip.
Duterte earlier said that he called the courts to allow Misuari to leave the country. Malacañang, however, said that the President did not directly contact the Judiciary regarding the Moro leader’s travel plea.
Late last month, Duterte had a brief meeting with Misuari in Malacañang, days after he formed the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, a committee dominated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Duterte apologized to Misuari for supposedly being unable to implement “agreements” on federalism. (Argyll Geducos)