Duterte reveals making ‘arrangements’ for Misuari’s trip

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday disclosed that he had made “arrangements” to ensure that Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari could attend his overseas commitments.

“Now there is Misuari, he saw me last night. He was not allowed by the court to go out because he has pending charges when he was armed,” Duterte said in a speech before the general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines in Manila.

“I had to make some arrangements. Sabi ko, this is a personal request of me, which I do not do at any time, at any other time. Sabi ko, papasukin --- ah palabasin ninyo,” he added, without saying the names of people whom he had made arrangements with.

Misuari met with Duterte in Malacañang on Monday, a day before the MNLF leader’s scheduled trip to the United Arab Emirates.

On Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan Third Division released its February 20 resolution granting Misuari’s request to attend the 48th Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council (OIC) of Foreign Ministers and the 14th Session of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) Member States to be held in the UAE and Morocco, respectively, in March.

The court said his trip to the summits affirmed his important role in the peace process in Mindanao.

“This court is not oblivious to the fact that the accused-movant has an important role in the peace efforts in Mindanao, being the chairman and founding leader of the MNLF and that his presence in the cited sessions both in Abu Dhabi and Morocco may have some national significance in the efforts,” it said.

Misuari faced two counts each for graft and malversation for allegedly giving undue advantage to CPR Publishing House, MBJ Learning Tools, and White Orchids for the procurement of "ghost textbooks" from 2000 to 2001 during his term as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

He and his co-accused also allegedly falsified procurement documents to justify the legality of the P77.26-million contract.

Misuari refused to enter a plea during the arraignment on Tuesday, prompting the court to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. — DVM, GMA News