Gov’t not eyeing peace deal with Misuari’s MNLF – Medialdea

President Rodrigo Duterte meets with MNLF founder Nur Misuari in Malacañang on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (Photo by ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / Presidential Photographers Division)

MANILA, Philippines – The government is not looking at a new peace deal with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by its founding chair Nur Misuari, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Thursday.

“Walang agreement in writing,” Medialdea told reporters.

“Hindi nga agreement eh, parang more of a gentleman’s [agreement]: ‘Mag-usap na lang tayo dito para magtulungan na lang tayo’,” he added.

Medialdea’s clarification came after President Rodrigo Duterte said in a speech on Tuesday that it was time to “craft a new deal for the MNLF of Misuari.”

Speaking before local chief executives, Duterte said he has ordered Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. to compose the peace agreement.

INQUIRER.net has sought comment from the three officials regarding the matter but has yet to receive any response from them, as of posting.

The MNLF forged a peace pact with the government in 1996, consequently establishing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where Misuari became a governor.

Misuari met with Duterte in Malacañang on Monday for a short talk that lasted for about 15 minutes.

READ: Duterte meets Misuari in Malacañang

The meeting of Duterte and Misuari came after the President revealed there were “rumblings” in the MNLF following the naming of the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which was mostly composed of people from MNLF’s rival, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The appointment of BTA members followed the recent ratification of the new Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which would create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that will replace ARMM. /kga