Court again stops arrest of Misuari

Nur Misuari. AP FILE PHOTO

A trial court has suspended the implementation of the warrants of arrest against Moro leader Nur Misuari for another six months to allow him to continue holding talks on the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

In her May 16 decision, a copy of which was obtained by reporters on Tuesday, Judge Maria Rowena Modesto-San Pedro of the Regional Trial Court Branch 158 in Pasig City granted Misuari’s petition not to arrest him on charges connected to the siege of Zamboanga City in 2013 by MNLF forces.

The first suspension of the implementation of the warrants she had ordered lapsed on April 27.

“The Court recognizes that the six-month period is too short to attain the much desired peace in Southern Philipines through the active participation of accused Misuari in the GPH-MNLF Peace Process or Peace Talks,” Modesto-San Pedro said.

The judge also noted that the prosecution has not filed any opposition to Misuari’s motion dated May 5 seeking an extension of the suspension of the warrants.

Modesto-San Pedro ordered the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies not to implement the arrest warrants against Misuari until Nov. 16.

She also directed Misuari, the Department of Justice and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to submit a monthly report to the court on the progress of the government-MILF peace process.

The government and the MNLF panels were scheduled to discuss the proposed new Bangsamoro entity under the agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Misuari had been charged with rebellion and crimes against humanity for the over 100 deaths during the siege and the displacement of over 120,000 people in Zamboanga City.

Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar has said that while the people of Zamboanga supported Duterte’s peace initiatives, Misuari “has to be made accountable for his alleged crimes.”

“For the moment, we express strong support to the bold and fresh initiatives of President Duterte to seek sustainable peace with justice in the land,” she said.

She promised, however, that the city government would “pursue our cases in court against him and the MNLF members responsible for the siege.” —JUDY QUIROS