MANILA, Philippines — Moro National Liberation Front chair Nur Misuari’s alleged threat to wage war if federalism is rejected may be a “political strategy” to express support to President Rodrigo Duterte, opposition senatorial bet Samira Gutoc argued Thursday.
“Sabi niya (Misuari), sige ito ang gusto ko, federalism (Misuari said this is what I want: federalism),” Duterte said during PDP-Laban’s campaign rally in Marikina City on Wednesday.
Misuari and Duterte met in Malacañang on Tuesday.
“Sabi ni Misuari kagabi (Misuari said last night), if you do not give it to me, I will go to war,” the President added.
READ: Misuari to declare war if gov’t fails to push federalism – Duterte
Gutoc said that while the threats need to stop, Misuari might not mean what he said.
“Ang malaking pang-kontra natin sa ganitong posturing ay panawagan galing sa isang batang Marawi kagaya ko na nakaranas ng gyera, na wakasan na, tuldukan na ‘yung karahasan at pagbabantang ganito,” the former ARMM assemblywoman said. “I think it’s only a matter of language.”
(The biggest deterrent against this posturing is an appeal from a native of Marawi like who had experienced war. We need to put a stop to threats of violence like this. I think it is on).
“I know that the Chairman does not mean a physical war. Sometimes, he only expresses his feelings and sentiments through mga ganitong pagsasalita (words like these). It might also be just a political strategy para maipakita ang suporta kay Pangulong Duterte (to show support to President Duterte).”
Senatorial contender and federalism advocate Ding Generoso, meanwhile, warned: “political unrest may go beyond Mindanao if the existing political system frustrates efforts geared toward federalism and real political and socioeconomic reforms that will break the monopoly of power by the national government, political clans, and the elites.”
“It is not only our Muslim brothers and sisters who have been denied economic development and a fair degree of self-determination for over a century but Filipinos in all other regions who are now crying for real reforms and freedom from the stranglehold of the unitary and elite-controlled government,” said the former spokesperson of the Consultative Committee that Duterte formed to draft a federal constitution. /ee