Duterte assures court Misuari will return if allowed to travel

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 has assured the court that Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari will definitely return if permitted to leave the country.

Duterte made this assurance as he asked the court, the police and the military to allow the MNLF leader to travel abroad.

“Now Misuari came to me sa opisina ko (in my office) the other night because he wanted to go out, he was not allowed, tapos may kaso siya (because he is facing cases),” Duterte said during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Zamboanga City on Sunday (March 3).

“Kinausap ko ang police pati military pati ang korte na palabasin muna siya (I spoke to the police, military, and court to allow him to leave the country). Ako ang nag-guarantee (guaranteed) that he will come back,” he added.

Malacañang, for its part, said that it saw nothing wrong with Duterte asking the court to allow Misuari to leave the country, noting that this move could help attain peace and order in Mindanao.

“Kung yung pagbibigay ng laya temporarily to Misuari makakatulong, palagay ko tungkulin ng Presidente na ipaalam sa hukuman na makakatulong itong taong ito (If giving temporary freedom to Misuari will help, I think it is the mandate of the President to tell the court that this person can help attain peace in Mindanao),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo, Misuari’s former legal counsel, clarified that Duterte was not violating the separation of powers because he was not demanding but only persuading the courts.

“Ang tinatawag na interference ay kung sinabing ‘palabasin mo ‘yan’. Kumbaga inuutos mo. Pero kung kakausapin nyo, (Interference is when you ordered to allow him to go out. But if you persuade), I need this man to help us preserve peace in Mindanao,” Panelo said.

“What he is saying is, mas gusto niya na makalabas si Misuari (he would prefer to allow Misuari to leave) para pagbalik, maayos na ang problema sa Mindanao (so that when he returns, the problems in Mindanao have already been solved),” he added.

He said Duterte was simply providing the court with input to convince them to grant Misuari’s plea to leave the country.

“Hindi mo talaga diretsang pinakikialaman ang desisyon ng isang hukuman. Pinapabayaaan mo sila, (You’re not directly interfering with the decision of the court. You leave it to them), provide them with inputs and let them evaluate),” Panelo said.

Courts can’t be intimidated

Panelo also believed that courts would not allow themselves to be coerced or intimidated by any branch of the government.

“You have to call the attention of the court to this position so that it can be evaluated kasi if it means the survival of this country then the President should do everything in his persuasive power to convince other branches,” Panelo said.

However, he also said other branches of government should cooperate with the executive in efforts to achieve long-lasting peace in Mindanao.

“Kung kailangan ng Presidente na makiusap sa bawat sangay and after all itong tatlo sangay na ito ay dapat magtulungan para sa bansa natin (If there is a need for President to appeal to every branch of government and after all, these 3 branches need to help each other for our country),” Panelo said.

Duterte and Misuari had a short meeting at Malacañan Palace on February 25, during which, the President expressed admiration for Misuari’s patience in the peace talks.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said that Duterte and Misuari are scheduled to meet again soon.

Medialdea, however, clarified that Duterte only wanted a gentleman’s agreement with Misuari after the President said he wanted to “craft a new deal for the MNLF of Misuari”.