Duterte eyes meeting with Misuari after plebiscite on BOL

President Rodrigo Duterte wants to talk with Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari after the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) scheduled for January 21 and February 6. 

Duterte so said in a speech in Cotabato City where he asked voters in the BOL areas to vote for the ratification of the proposed organic law, which has the support of another MNLF faction led by former Sulu governor Jikiri.

The BOL aims to end decades of conflict in Mindanao by creating a political entity that would enjoy greater autonomy than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

"I hope to talk to him [Misuari] in the coming days as we agreed. Sabi ko, tapusin muna natin ‘to. Hintuin natin ‘yung atin then again we can resume after the Bangsamoro," the President said.

"I would call out to him, extend my hand and friendship and peace and I hope that we can [have] an agreement that will also promote the interest of the MNLF and the rest of the Moro of Mindanao," he added.

Duterte met with Misuari in August last year in Davao City, a month after the BOL was enacted, but Malacañang said the two only talked about federalism.

Misuari's MNLF faction said the 1996 peace agreement he had signed with the government has yet to be fully implemented.

That deal led to the creation of the ARMM, which the BOL seeks to replace, that was once headed by Misuari. —NB, GMA News