Misuari seeks court nod for UAE, Morocco trips

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

In a motion filed before the anti-graft court’s third division on Feb. 11, Misuari through his lawyer Manolo Flores said he was invited by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to attend the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Abu Dhabi on March 1 and 2 and the 14th session of member-states of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC in Rabat, Morocco on March 13 and 14.

“The participation of the MNLF in the... meetings will greatly benefit the Philippines in terms of ending the armed conflict in Mindanao to improve the Philippine economy as a whole,” Misuari’s motion read.

Misuari said he intends to leave the country on Feb. 27. He said he would stay in the UAE until his departure for Morocco.

He said he would return to the country not later than March 20.

Misuari assured the court that his intended travel would not impede his arraignment on March 27.

Misuari is facing two counts each of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents over the alleged anomalous purchase of educational materials when he was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2000 and 2001.