Duterte calls Misuari warrior, brave patriot
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2019 10:01:11 +0000
Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari is a brave patriot and warrior who has an open heart for others, President Duterte said recently.
The President was all praises for Misuari amid government plans to forge a deal with his group to help attain a peaceful Mindanao.
“Iyong si Nur, happily. I supposed that I have always respected him ever since we met 30 years ago. I love the guy,” Duterte said during a visit to Cagayan.
“He is quite patriotic. He is a warrior. He is brave but always he has an open heart for his fellow human being,” he added.
After the new Bangsamoro autonomous region has been created after a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Duterte reaffirmed his commitment to talk with Misuari on a proposed territorial structure that will settle any conflict.
“Hopefully I could also craft another structure or a setup or a satisfaction so that maybe the revolutionary government which are – or which is anchored on territoriality, mawala na ‘yan. As long as we are ready to share with the others,” Duterte said.
“Kung sakali, by the grace of God, papayag si Nur with the same setup sa kanyang lugar, baka in the goodness of God’s time, we may be able to have a sort of peaceful Mindanao,” he added.
The President recently announced that Misuari threatened to go to war if the shift to federalism is not pursued. Last month, Duterte met with Misuari in Malacañang where the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor pressed for the federalism initiative.
The two leaders eventually agreed to create their respective five-member panels to discuss the proposed federalism to avoid a potential conflict in the South.
Duterte however reminded Misuari that the push for federalism must go through the legislative process and must be in accordance with the Constitution.