Palace: Nur Misuari not a ‘spoiler’ of peace deal

Malacañang does not consider Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari as a "spoiler" to achieving lasting peace in Mindanao.

In an interview on GMA News TV's "News to Go" on Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the MNLF leader is "not against" the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

"Ang ginagawa ni Presidente, kinakausap niya si Nur sapagkat napakalaki ng grupo (MNLF) niya eh. Kailangan mo kasing makausap lahat ng mga major players doon kasi kung kumontra yung mga 'yan, sa BOL, may problema na naman tayo,"

"Chairman Misuari is not against the BOL.  Ang sinasabi niya lang, mas better or better yung ano yung federalism, pero hindi siya kontra sa BOL," he said.

When asked about the possible implications of President Rodrigo's continuous discussions with Misuari, who had led the 2013 siege of Zamboanga City, Panelo vouched for the MNLF leader's character and said he wanted peace in the region as well as for the country.

"Hindi 'yung sinasabi natin na binibigyan natin ng impluwensiya si Chairman Misuari. Chairman Misuari is a very honorable, reasonable man. We've dealt with him. He was my client," he said.

Panelo added, "Hindi siya spoiler na tinatawag. malayong malayo sa paningin ng iba sa pagka-spoiler niya. gusto niyang magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao at sa Pilipinas."

During the interview, Panelo also shared that President Rodrigo Duterte had a 15-minute discussion with the MNLF leader on Monday.

Duterte reportedly "apologized" to Misuari for "delays" on certain agreements and thanked him for his "patience."

"Mga 15 minutes lang sila nag-usap and the President was commending, (at) the same time, apologizing to chairman Nur Misuari because apparently, previously they talked about certain things that the President was not able to attend to because of the many work he has to do," Panelo said.

"Kaya, sabi niya, 'thank you for being very patient and we'll have to talk about this again, and hopefully magawa natin 'yung pinag-usapan natin'," he added. — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News