Muslim senatorial bets back gov't talks with Misuari

Two senatorial candidates from Mindanao welcomed fresh initiatives to talk peace with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by its founding chairman Nur Misuari.

“The peace process should be inclusive. We are a democracy. Kailangan pagbigyan para sa lasting peace,” Maguindanao Representative Dong Mangudadatu, one of the 13 bets of the administration coalition Hugpong ng Pagbabago, told reporters after a campaign stop in Navotas.

In a separate statement, civic leader Samira Gutoc, candidate of the opposition's Otso Diretso coalition said Misuari is "a necessary component of the peace process to resolve the never-ending conflict in our history."

"He is vital in pushing for a complete ceasefire," Gutoc said.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Misuari met on Monday in what could signal moves toward a new peace deal with the MNLF.   The Ramos government forged a peace pact with the MNLF in 1996, but not all of its provisions were implemented.

In a plebiscite last month, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified, which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with an expanded land and water jurisdiction, fiscal autonomy, increased share in national government resources, among others. 

This is seen as the final step in the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has been leading a separatist insurgency since the 1970s.

The upcoming talks between the government and the MNLF was raised amid the “rumblings” in the MNLF about the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The MNLF has reportedly expressed concern about the composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, saying it was only give a few seats in the interim government.

Misuari is facing graft and malversation charges for allegedly giving undue advantage to CPR Publishing House, MBJ Learning Tools, and White Orchids for the procurement of at least P115 million worth of “ghost textbooks" from 2000 to 2001 during his term as governor of ARMM. He refused to enter a plea on the said cases on Tuesday.

In addition, Misuari has a pending rebellion charge in connection with his alleged involvement in the August 2013 Zamboanga City siege where he and then rogue MILF Commander Umbra Kato violently took over the city.

Misuari has been granted temporary liberty by President Rodrigo Duterte so he can participate in the peace process.

“Kung mapatunayan na may pagkakasala siya, ‘dun na siya mananagot sa batas. Bahala na ang ating justice system roon," Mangudadatu, who hails from Sultan Kudarat where MNLF has presence, said.

Gutoc said Misuari should be subjected to the country's criminal laws.

"But he is also part of the peace process,which is political in nature, so he should be a key political player in that peace talk," Gutoc added.

President Duterte met with Misuari on February 25, Monday,  hours before the turnover of the ARMM government to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) led by Interim Chief Minister Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, a leader of the MILF, a splinter group of the MNLF.

The BTA, which will be composed of 80 members appointed by the President from various sectors, will govern the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region until the region's inhabitants elect their leaders in 2022 polls.

The incumbent ARMM officials will automatically become BTA members until their term expires on June 30, 2019.