Misuari may be held liable for threat of war over federalism —Sotto

Moro National Liberation Front founding chair Nur Misuari should not threaten government to get what he wants, leaders of the Senate said on Thursday.

President Rodrigo Duterte, with whom Misuari met in Malacañang twice recently, said the MNLF leader warned of war if a shift to a federal form of government was not adopted.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Misuari may be held liable for remark.

"That's close to threatening and inciting rebellion. He probably did not even say what type of federalism he means," Sotto told GMA News Online.

He said federalism was not something that the government should do to appease someone.

“Why we are going to jump into something because a citizen of the country says he wants this or that. Hindi ganun kadali ‘yun. Pinag-aaralan yun, maraming ibig sabihin ang federalism,” Sotto said during Kapihan sa Senado.

He added the concerns of the Bangsamoro people were being addressed with the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We already see the product of the BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law) ‘yun pa lang nakikita mo na magandang experiment ‘yan. It’s some type of situation na parang federal in effect,” Sotto said.

“Kung hindi maganda ang effect, i-repeal. Pero pag constitution ang ginalaw mo, hindi madali ‘yan,” he said.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Misuari’s threat to go to war, if true, provided the single most important argument against federalism.

“No one should be allowed to threaten the very existence of the Republic if his or her demand is not granted by the government,” Drilon said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said it was important for Duterte to keep Misuari close or at least within close monitoring range of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, given the transition period of the BARMM.

“By making public that part of his conversation with Misuari, the President is actually still pursuing and campaigning for federalism,” Lacson said. —NB, GMA News