Duterte appoints Nur Misuari as PH’s special economic envoy in OIC

President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on March 27, 2017. (Photo by RENE LUMAWAG / Presidential Photographers Division)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari as Special Economic Envoy on Islamic Affairs to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In a statement from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Duterte made the announcement during the meeting between government and MNLF on “remaining commitments in the Tripartite Review Process (TRP) of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement” on Friday.

The OIC, along with the government and MNLF, led the TRP which was concluded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last January 2016.

Duterte said the MNLF founder will help enable “lasting relationships” with leaders in Islamic countries.

“Brother Nur has occupied several positions in the past. Considered it as an honor for me to delegate you as special envoy of the government so that you can foster further lasting relationships with the leaders of the Islamic countries,” Duterte said during the meeting.

Misuari is also set to attend the annual meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States in Burkina Faso in Western Africa on Jan. 21 to Jan. 23, 2020.

The OIC will help in the peace agreements between the government and rebels. The OIC is involved in Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum to “harmonize all the Moro fronts in the Philippines and integrate all the development plans to foster long lasting and enduring peace in Mindanao.”

Edited by JPV