Misuari praises Duterte, support to peace efforts in South

DAVAO CITY – Nur Misuari, chieftain of the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front, praised President Rodrigo Duterte for his untiring and sincere support to the peace process in an effort to ensure the

government’s commitment to the 1996 peace deal with the MNLF.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and I have met at least 16 times already, and I am impressed by the dedication of our President to fasttrack the implementation of the peace agreement,” Misuari said.

“In our recent meeting I asked him: ‘Brother President, can we fast track the peace process to ensure the full implementation of government commitments during your time?’ The President replied: ‘I understand your concern. I, myself, want to fast-track the peace initiative to achieve long-lasting peace in Mindanao during my term,” he added.

Just recently, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr flew to the southern province of Sulu and met with Misuari who announced in gathering the arrival of top officials of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which was instrumental in the peace process between Manila and MNLF.

“The President expects to see substantial results in the implementation of the remaining commitments under the GPH-MNLF peace agreement within the first quarter of this year. The main commitment of President Duterte is to bring peace in the Bangsamoro homeland,” Galvez told a huge crowd of MNLF members and supporters during the gathering held at Camp Astanah Bud Nagha in the town of Indanan.

Misuari also vowed to continue supporting the Duterte administration’s peace and development agenda. He vowed to secure the full support of OIC member-countries to ensure the completion of the remaining provisions contained in the Tripartite Review Process of the peace accord. “I am appealing to all members of the MNLF to support the initiatives of the government’s implementation of the 1996 peace agreement,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)