Duterte to Meet with Nur Misuari in Sulu Next Week

Dvao City, Philippines, 04 Syawal 1437/09 July 2016 (MINA) – President Duterte is set to meet with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari in Sulu next week in an effort to get the rebel’s support for the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

Duterte met with over 700 Muslims from all over the island in celebration of the Mindanao Hariraya Eid’l Fitr 2016 held at the SMX Convention Center here in SM Lanang Premier Friday, Philstar reported.

Among those who attended the celebration were officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by vice chair for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar.

“We all believe in the same God. What you give to the MILF, you also give to the MNLF,” Duterte said.

To those wondering why there are not many Muslims in his Cabinet, Duterte explained the government is now thinking of a reconfiguration of the territory in Mindanao.

“We are trying to do a framework, and if I succeed in convincing everybody in Mindanao, if I could convince my MILF brothers and Nur Misuari of the MNLF, there will be a reconfiguration of the territory. And most of them will occupy regional or state positions,” Duterte said.

The President said that he foresees that toward the end of the year he will be able to come up with a framework on federalism.

“But if the Filipino nation in a plebiscite would not want it, then I am ready to concede whatever is there in the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We will see to it that it will pass and also in fairness to Nur, we might also configure his territory for the Tausug nation,” Duterte said. “We will have new boundaries.”

He said the boundaries are not intended to separate Moros from Christians but only to delineate territories “that should not keep us apart from being Mindanaoans.”

In another development, Duterte yesterday said the US engendered terrorism overseas that led to the ruin of Iraq, Syria and Libya.  (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)