Duterte to talk peace with Nur after BOL plebiscite
President Duterte is planning to resume peace talks with Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) founding chairman, Nur Misuari, once the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is ratified in a plebiscite early next year.
In his recent visit to Cagayan de Oro, the President said he hopes the “yes votes” would win in the upcoming Bangsamoro plebiscite so he could deal again with Misuari.
Duterte has reaffirmed his willingness to forge peace in Mindanao, recognizing the separate rebellions waged by Misuari's group
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“We have a strife going on. There are two revolutions and that is the MI and MN. Now, we are trying really to forge peace with you. As – MI, I hope the plebiscite would push through and for the yes votes to win so that I can deal again with the… And then Misuari, we will talk but we will no longer join that. When the time comes, let us talk,” Duterte said.
“I pray that the BOL will push through. Inshallah. And after that I will deal with Misuari,” he added.
Last July, President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to address the Bangsamoro's aspiration for genuine autonomy.
The law, which seeks to create a new political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), forms part of the peace agreement forged by the government with the MILF, the breakaway faction of the MNLF.
The proposed territory includes ARMM, six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays of Cotabato, and the cities of Isabela and Cotabato subject to the approval of voters. Duterte has appealed to stakeholders to give the law a chance and participate in the plebiscite.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has scheduled the plebiscite on the ratification of the Bangsamoro law on Jan. 21, 2019.
Last month, the President said his government was working out a “happy compromise for all” amid its peace initiatives with Misuari.