Despite MNLF calls, Nur Misuari arrest warrant stands

Nur Misuari. AP FILE PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said it was hopeful that the government would lift the arrest warrant for its leader, Nur Misuari, so he could join the group’s delegation to Manila on September 2 for the tripartite meeting with the government and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

In its official Facebook page, the MNLF said Misuari and some 80 MNLF officials were included in the list of those attending the meeting, which the OIC had called for, to thresh out problems hounding the erstwhile rebel group.

“We hope the warrant would already be lifted against our beloved leader Prof. Nur Misuari,” the MNLF wrote.

Misuari has been in hiding after warrants of arrest were issued against him for the September 2013 siege here, where at least 300 people were killed and over 120,000 families displaced.

He and his followers, who took part in the violence, now face charges on rebellion and violation of international humanitarian law (war crimes).

Despite being in hiding, Misuari maintains close contact with the MNLF faction that he heads.

On July 26, 2015, a photo of him with MNLF delegates from Central Mindanao was posted on social media. The photo was supposedly taken in Sulu.

Regional State Prosecutor Peter Medalle said they have not received any information that Misuari’s warrant would be lifted and that the former rebel leader-turned-politician could still be arrested on sight.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commander of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said as far as they were concerned, Misuari remains to be a fugitive.

“We continue to search for him, we will arrest him. He has a standing warrant,” Guerrero said.

However, Guerrero admitted that while there had been reports of MNLF movements in Sulu, Misuari’s whereabouts remain unclear. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao/CDG