Duterte lauds Misuari’s patience in peace talks

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with Moro National Liberation Front Founding Chairman Nur Misuari during their meeting at the Malacañan Palace on February 25, 2019. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte “admired” Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari’s patience in peace negotiations, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte and Misuari met at the Malacañan Palace on Monday.

“The President told the chairman that he admired his patience and he apologized for not having implemented or enforced whatever agreements that they had previously with respect, I think, to federalism or something,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo called Misuari a “very reasonable, patient man”.

He said Misuari had no complaints about the composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

“If the MNLF was complaining about it, the chairman did not mention it,” he said.

Panelo echoed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr.’s statement saying there is an “equitable” representation in BTA membership.

“Siguro ibig niyang sabihin ng equitable (When Galvez said equitable it may be) not equally in terms of numbers but on how effective the representation would be with respect to goals of the BTA,” Panelo said.

Panelo said Duterte and Misuari are set to meet again to talk about issues like federalism.

“They didn’t have much time to talk so they will meet again,” he said.

Duterte earlier said the newly-established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is a realization of everyone’s dream to end the armed struggle in Mindanao.