Duterte wants gentleman’s agreement with Misuari

FILE: 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 wants a gentleman’s agreement with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said on Thursday.

Medialdea made this clarification after Duterte earlier expressed interest in crafting a new deal for the MNLF but did not give further details.

“Sabi ni Nur (Nur said), he is willing to talk and he has waited this long for me to make a decisive decision when he comes back. Sabi ko (I said), ‘Time for us to craft a new deal for the MNLF of Misuari,’” Duterte said during the 2019 general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines at the Manila Hotel on February 26.

Medialdea clarified that it is not a formal agreement that Duterte seeks but a gentleman’s agreement of mutual respect.

He further said Misuari did not ask for any condition during their meeting.

“Hindi nga agreement, parang it’s more of gentleman’s. Usap na lang tayo dito. Respetuhin yung kanila (It’s not an agreement, it’s more of a gentleman’s agreement. Let’s talk here. They respect each other),” Medialdea told reporters in an interview.

On Monday, Malacañang confirmed that Duterte expressed admiration for Misuari’s patience in peace negotiations during their meeting at Malacañan Palace on February 25.

“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,” Presidential Spokesperson Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

This is the first time that Duterte and Misuari met since the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which establishes a new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).