President Duterte and Nur Misuari embrace like “long-lost brothers.” The Moro rebel leader, who is accused of instigating the siege on Zamboanga City in 2013, vows to help bring peace to Mindanao and expose Malaysia’s part in the Abu Sayyaf’s kidnapping activities. —JOAN BONDOC
There were no promises made to Moro National Liberation Front founding chair Nur Misuari following his meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang, a Palace official said on Saturday.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the meeting between Duterte and Misuari yielded no promises for the MNLF leader.
No specific issues were discussed, Abella said.
“Wala pa po tayong ano … ang mahalaga lang po, nag-usap so wala po tayong specifics at this stage. So ’yun po. Ang mahalaga ay nagka-face to face sila, nagkita sila and then saka pa lang magsisimula po talaga ’yung actual conversation,” he said in an interview on state-run dzRB radio.
On Thursday, Misuari met with Duterte at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang after three years in hiding.
READ: Misuari tells Duterte: Thanks for ‘restoring my freedom’
The MNLF leader thanked the President for restoring his freedom.
The former fugitive was charged with rebellion but the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 158 granted the motion to suspend proceedings against him, in effect postponing the implementation of the arrest warrant.
“There is a pending warrant against Misuari which is lifted now upon my orders so we can talk,” Duterte said during their meeting.
Abella, meanwhile, assured that the charges against Misuari in connection with the Zamboanga siege would be addressed at the right time.
“At the right time po ay masasagot, and all of those issues will be addressed, pero right now po ay ang mahalaga is … nag-uusap sila ng Presidente and the President is addressing ’yung mga historical ano, issues,” he said.
During the siege in 2013, at least 218 persons had died and more than 100,000 had been displaced.
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