Misuari seeks lifting of arrest warrant

MANILA, Philippines - Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari has appealed to President Duterte to initiate moves for the lifting of his arrest warrant issued by a Zamboanga City court in connection with the 2013 Zamboanga City siege, his spokesman said yesterday.

MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla said Misuari made the appeal through presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza during the turnover to the government of Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad after he was released over the weekend by Abu Sayyaf bandits that held the victim for one year in the jungles of Sulu.

Misuari reportedly helped in seeking the release of the hostage.

Misuari is facing an outstanding arrest warrant over charges of rebellion and violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity in connection with the 2013 Zamboanga seige.

The cases against Misuari, MNLF commanders Ustadz Habier Malik, Assamin Bas Arki and Assamin Hussin and hundreds of their members were initially filed before the Zamboanga regional trial court but were transferred to the Pasig RTC upon orders of the Supreme Court due to security considerations.

Fontanilla said Misuari urged Dureza to relay his concern to the President.

“Chairman Misuari has appealed to the President for the lifting of arrest warrant so that he could come out,” Fontanilla said.

The MNLF spokesman lamented that despite the public announcement of Duterte ordering the police and military not to arrest Misuari, the  concerned government officials have not made any effort to resolve the legal obstacles facing Misuari.

He said despite the full cooperation of the MNLF in the ongoing crackdown against Abu Sayyaf bandits, Misuari remains a fugitive and it appears that a certain group within the Duterte administration want him to remain in hiding.

“Some top officials in the government appear to have adopted a hands off policy in dealing with the legal problem of Misuari,” Fontanilla said.

He said the MNLF has convened its panel for the resumption of the stalled peace talks but the government side hasn’t.

“The MNLF is ready for the resumption of peace talks but who will represent the government panel?” Fontanilla asked.

He said the Department of Justice or the Office of the Solicitor General should make a manifestation with the court for the suspension of the trial to pave the way for the resumption of peace talks.

“The government can invoke the 1996 peace agreement as the ground for their petition in court,” Fontanilla said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II bared yesterday that government prosecutors are set to seek the lifting of the arrest warrant against Misuari as part of the government’s effort to pursue peace negotiations with the Moro rebels.

“That is part of the peace talks. I think there will be no problem with respect to the MNLF,” Aguirre told a press conference.

Aguirre said he has discussed the matter with Dureza and that the necessary motion to be filed in court is being prepared. 

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that Misuari had also asked the government to suspend military operations while he was securing the release of the hostages in Sulu.

“There’s a request actually from Misuari to suspend operations while he negotiates for the release of the remaining hostages,” Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said he let the troops deal with the situation. He said about 6,000 to 7,000 soldiers have been deployed in the area.

“No, I only told the commander to use their judgment because they are on the ground. They can maybe stop operations in areas where negotiations are taking place (but) not in all places,” he said.

At least six hostages have been released by Abu Sayyaf in the last two days. 

Lorenzana said there was a change in the stance of Abu Sayyaf when Duterte started talking with Misuari.

“So we told our troops to keep the pressure on the Abu Sayyaf. I think the pressure helped in the release because they were also afraid that the hostages might be killed. You know if the hostages were killed they will not have any leverage,” he said. – With Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe