ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Zamboanga City still wants Nur Misuari and his followers held responsible for his rebel faction's siege of the city in 2013 despite an offer to help the government against the Maute group.
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city government will not question President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to enlist rebel groups to quell the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-inspired Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf.
“We respect the decision of the president on that matter (enlisting of the Moro National Liberation Front fighters),” Salazar said, but deferred to the national government on whether or not that will actually happen.
On Monday, President Duterte announced during a visit to troops in Jolo, Sulu that he is willing to enlist members of the MNLF, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and New People’s Army (NPA) if clashes with the Maute Group in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur continues.
“I am announcing to all forces of the MI, MN, if this conflict will take long and if you want to join, cast your lot with the Republic… I will take you in as soldiers, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas,” the president said.
READ: 5,000 MNLF fighters to help AFP
Duterte’s pronouncement came after Misuari wrote the president to offer 5,000 men to fight the militants in Marawi alongside government troops.
City legal officer Jesus Carbon, a former judge, said additional cases have been filed against Misuari before the Sandiganbayan.
Misuari, a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, faces graft raps from when he has an elected official.
“President Duterte says that Mr. Misuari can be useful during this period of martial law and we don’t question the full force of the president,” Carbon said in a press briefing at Zamboanga City Hall on Monday.
However, Carbon said the city government will still pursue its cases against Misuari and his men who are facing charges of rebellion and of violating the "Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity" in connection with the 2013 siege.
Carbon said the city will not enter into a plea bargain to reduce the charges.
“What we don’t want there is the repeat of the Zamboanga siege. That’s why we give our full support to our military and to our police and so far we have no reason to complain,” he said.
The siege is believed to have been meant to preempt the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro by the government and the MILF, a breakaway group from the MNLF.