Police to decide on how to arrest Nur Misuari — Palace

Nur Misuari. AP FILE PHOTO

It’s not as easy at it seems.

Malacañang on Tuesday said it will be up to the Philippine National Police to figure out a way on how to best serve the warrant of arrest for Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari who is facing multiple murder charges for the 2013 Zamboanga City siege.

READ: Nur presence at MNLF meet in Sulu confirmed

“There is an outstanding warrant. So there is legal basis for arresting him,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told Palace reporters.

Coloma pointed out that Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade, already stated that they want the police to handle the matter.

“So our law enforcement authorities will have to decide on the most appropriate way of serving the warrant,” the Secretary explained. “The law enforcement authorities have a legal basis for serving that warrant in the manner that they will deem appropriate.”

It was confirmed that Misuari, who remains a fugitive, attended a general membership meeting of the MNLF in Sulu last Saturday. Around 2,000 MNLF members attended the event, according to reports.

The military, however, did not arrest him, despite learning about his whereabouts. Arrojado said it is the PNP’s mandate to serve the warrant and they can only serve as backup support.

Habib Hashim Mudjahab, chair of the Islamic Command Council of the MNLF said law enforcers would have had difficulty arresting Misuari since the meeting was held in coordination with local authorities. He said government authorities might have “made an evaluation about the repercussions.”