Nur willing to meet with Rody if arrest warrant lifted

MANILA, Philippines - Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari is willing to come down from his mountain hideout to meet President Duterte once the arrest warrant against him is lifted, a top rebel leader said yesterday.

The rebel leader, who requested not to be named, said the President’s assurance that Misuari will not be arrested is a “gray area” because Misuari is legally a fugitive so any citizen can arrest him.

“The police and military may follow the order of the President but any party who wants to sabotage the peace effort in Mindanao may effect citizen’s arrest,” he added.

He noted that since a local court issued the arrest warrant against Misuari, the judiciary now has jurisdiction over him. And because of the separation of powers, the executive has lost jurisdiction over Misuari. 

“Unless the warrant is lifted by a local court, Misuari will remain in his stronghold,” he added.

The rebel leader also said the case of Misuari is different from the communist leaders, who were released after they posted bail, because the MNLF has an existing peace agreement, which provides that any conflict between the government and the rebels will be resolved through bilateral talks.

He suggested that the government make representation with the judiciary and invoke the 1996 peace agreement to lift the arrest warrant against Misuari for the resumption of the peace talks.

He noted that under the 1996 peace agreement brokered by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Zamboanga conflict should had been resolved by a third party, not filed in court. 

For the MNLF, the criminal case is allegedly a violation of the peace accord and the only option is to revisit the agreement for the resumption of the stalled peace talks.

The rebel leader further noted that the MNLF and the government were in the midst of talks for the final implementation of the peace accord when the government panel under former president Benigno Aquino III abandoned the talks.

“No less than the OIC has issued a resolution calling for the resumption of stalled peace talks,” he added, noting that the OIC until this time has recognized and granted Misuari a seat as an observer in the Islamic body.

The rebel leader also said Misuari is willing to help resolve the problem with the Abu Sayyaf, adding initial skirmishes have taken place with the bandits who now avoid MNLF camps where they are not welcome.