Davao City, Philippines, 10 Dulqa’dah 1437/13 August 2016 (MINA) – There was no meeting with fugitive Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari when President Duterte visited Jolo, Sulu Friday.
According to Philstar, the President instead spent just over an hour talking with the troops in Camp Teodulfo Bautista.
Duterte said he might meet with Misuari early next year after the resumption of peace initiatives with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the MNLF.
Noting the charges of rebellion against Misuari over the Zamboanga City siege in 2013, Duterte said the Muslim rebel leader “is too old to be jailed.”
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Duterte earlier said there is no longer any need to consult Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco on the meeting with Misuari.
Climaco led the filing of rebellion charges against Misuari for the Zamboanga City siege in September 2013.
“When the time comes, maybe next year. I will just tell him (Misuari), ‘Come on ‘Adre,’ we will talk now,” Duterte said.
At the same time, Duterte appealed for peace in Mindanao, calling on Muslims and Christians to unite and stop the war.
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“I appeal to all, I am pleading to stop this war,” he said.
On the peace initiatives, Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza heads the team who will hold talks with representatives of the MILF in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia starting Friday.
Dureza said the meeting is crucial as the two sides are entering the implementation phase of the peace agreement. (T/R07/R01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
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