Duterte wants another meeting with Misuari

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte greets Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari prior to the start of the meeting with the MNLF and Government of the Philippines Implementing Panels at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on July 18, 2017. Joining Misuari are members of the MNLF Implementing Panel. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night bared that he is trying to set up another meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari.

Duterte said he wanted to offer Misuari “the same arrangement” he gave the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He took pride in being able to convince MILF chair Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim, who is now BARMM interim Chief Minister.

“Central Mindanao medyo nagkalma na (has calmed down). We were able to really convince those guys sila Murad,” Duterte said during the 122nd founding anniversary of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) at Malacañang Park.

“I’m trying to set up a meeting with Nur Misuari.

I would concede the same arrangement,” he added.

On March 26 this year, Duterte said he is “in a hurry” to strike a deal with Misuari to end Moro rebellion and achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.

Duterte bared this after he met with Misuari in Malacañang on March 20 to discuss the shift to federalism, which the MNLF founder was pushing for.

The President and Misuari also met in Malacañang on Feb. 25, 2019.