Duterte: Nur Misuari eyeing meeting in Kuala Lumpur

President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Wednesday that he has already spoken with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari Tuesday night. 

Speaking before repatriated overseas Filipino workers from Saudi Arabia at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Duterte said Misuari suggested to meet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the peace talks.

“Si Nur, nag-usap kami kagabi. Gusto niya sa Kuala Lumpur, ‘yung OIC. Sabi niya: Dalawang magpirmahan na tayo, tapos ang away.’ Interesado ako kasi ‘yung bakbakan diyan sa Jolo, hanggang ngayon. Sayang ‘yung pera, sayang ‘yung bala. Ipatay mo rin sa kapwa mo Pilipino,” Duterte said.  

Duterte disclosed his phone conversation with Misuari after speaking about the ongoing clearing operations against Abu Sayyaf, which resulted in the deaths of 15 soldiers. 

The military said at least 30 Abu Sayyaf terrorists were also killed in separate clashes in Sulu.

Misuari has a standing arrest warrant for the Zamboanga City siege in 2013.

But Duterte told law enforcers not to implement the warrant. 

“Ako? Ako man ang hepe ng pulis pati military, sabihin ko lang, ‘huwag ninyong galawin,’” he said. 

“Well, if there is a warrant of arrest, all I have to do is to do not implement it against him because if you arrest Misuari, you place him under the custody of the police diyan sa [Camp] Crame and (if) he dies for whatever reason, kumpromiso na tayo. Then there’s not gonna be a... mahirapan na tayo mag… He’s the only known leader who has the influence and the structure. Nobody else,” Duterte explained. 

The President even told Misuari during their phone call that he does not want to put the MNLF chairman in detention so they can talk about the peace talks between the government and the Moros. 

“We talked last night, nandoon ako sa opisina and I suggested to Nur Misuari about his problem that there is a pending warrant for his arrest and I told him, ‘Nur, I have no intention of detaining you or placing you in the custody of the government. You can simply walk out there, ask any soldier and police to escort you. Kung saan ako, mag-usap tayo,’” Duterte shared. — RSJ/KG, GMA News