Palace advises Misuari to face charges in court

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes Nur Misuari in Malacañang. AFP / FILE PHOTO

Malacañang on Tuesday said Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari should face the charges filed against him after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest over the “textbook scam.”

The Sandiganbayan ordered Tuesday the arrest of Misuari in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of P115.2 million in educational materials in 2000 and 2001.

READ: Sandigan orders Misuari’s arrest over P115-M textbook scam

“The onus at this point will have to be with Mr. Misuari,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a Palace briefing.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier ordered the police not to implement the standing warrant of arrest for Misuari as the chief executive expressed willingness to end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.

READ: Palace: Duterte order not to arrest Misuari a ‘strategic move’

In November 2016, Misuari emerged from three years of hiding when he met with Duterte in Malacañang.

The MNLF leader went into hiding after a 2013 siege in Zamboanga that left at least 200 dead and thousands of families displaced.

MNLF supporters carried out the attack to derail the government’s peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court in November also suspended the enforcement of Misuari’s arrest warrant and all court proceedings against him for six months after Duterte expressed his desire to meet with the MNLF leader.

Duterte and Misuari have since met to discuss peace talks with the MILF.

Asked how his warrant of arrest would affect peace talks with the government, Abella said, “I cannot categorically say it will not have any effect, but at this stage, it will be best if he address directly himself.”

Misuari has not issued a statement since the anti-graft court ordered his arrest. JPV