PALACE FIRM ON MILF PACTS; FORMAL TALKS SLATED ‘SOON’: Presidential Adviser
Norberto Gonzales slammed the door on demands to renegotiate the two "interim
agreements" he signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Malaysia,
saying formal peace talks should resume soon.
Gonzales said over the weekend that he saw no need to renegotiate the agreements,
noting that the controversial May 6 and 7 accords have paved the way for the
resumption of formal peace negotiations.
Gonzales said he would be meeting again soon with MILF vice chair Al Haj Murad
to lay the groundwork for formal talks, which will be handled on the government
side by chief negotiator Jesus Dureza.
Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable said Sunday the Palace expected the talks
to resume "soon."
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suspended the operations of the Dureza panel
several weeks ago to give way to back-channeling efforts by Gonzales.
Afable was referring to the May 7 agreement on "implementing guidelines," which
provides for the rehabilitation of Muslim communities affected by the Estrada
administration's "all-out war" in 2000.
The other accord, a "joint communiqué" signed on May 6, involved the cooperation
of the MILF in the military and police campaign against criminal gangs, particularly
kidnap-for-ransom groups, in certain areas in Mindanao.
Gonzales said the two agreements he signed did not violate any provision of the
Constitution and enjoyed the full support of the President.
Afable underscored the tentative nature of the accords, saying they were mere
interim agreements.
Afable, whose primary job is running the Presidential Management Staff, said
members of the opposition were "really going overboard" when they accused the
President of committing an impeachable offense through her support of the agreements.
He pointed to the May 7 agreement that seeks, among other provisions, to address
the socioeconomic needs of Muslims displaced in the course of fighting in 2000.
Philippines Daily Inquirer, 27 May 2002
MORE LAWMAKERS REJECT GOV’T-MILF AGREEMENTS: "Very dangerous" provisions,
congressmen noted Thursday as they continued to reject the "interim" agreements
signed by backdoor negotiator Norberto Gonzales with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front early this month.
"The Philippines cannot live with these agreements," Zamboanga City Rep. Celso
Lobregat said. "Instead of being an instrument of peace, these agreements will
be an instrument of war."
Lobregat said that, unlike previous agreements with the Moro National Liberation
Front, the agreements Gonzales signed with the MILF in Malaysia on May 6 and 7
did not mention the Constitution as the framework for the agreements.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., chair of the House defense committee
investigating the GRP-MILF peace accords, said that these "interim agreements"
should not be enforced because they contained "very dangerous provisions."
Pichay said Gonzales, the presidential adviser for special concerns, failed to
answer his question on the provision granting MILF police powers in
"MILF areas/communities" in Wednesday’s four-hour hearing.
Pichay said that while he would not like to preempt the committee’s recommendation,
he feels that "there’s a lot of ambiguity that should be clarified" in the agreements.
In Lucena City, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu said the MILF
cannot enjoy police powers. "Definitely, we will never agree to that because there
is only one armed forces and there is only one police force," Cimatu said.
He described the controversial provision as not "properly settled." "This will
be properly clarified in the implementing directive that is being worked out,"
he said, adding that the country’s soldiers should not be ordered to first secure
the permission and coordinate with the MILF.
In Cotabato City, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza said he had
not been replaced as chief of the government team negotiating peace with the MILF.
Lobregat urged President Macapagal-Arroyo to order the government peace panel to
renegotiate the terms Gonzales signed. "She can order her negotiators to
renegotiate the agreements right away," he said.
He scoffed at Gonzales’ statement that the agreements he signed were confidence-
building measures meant to draw the MILF to sign a final peace agreement.
He maintained that the agreements allowed the return of the MILF camps, gave the
rebels a status of belligerency, awarded them reparation, and gave them wide-ranging
powers including police powers and full authority to use and manage public and
private funds. He said the agreements were outside the bounds of the Constitution
and practically "gave away everything" to the MILF.
Lobregat said that contrary to Gonzales’ claim, the documents that the backdoor
negotiator signed were actual implementing guidelines for the mother "agreement
on peace" signed on June 22, 2001 in Tripoli, Libya, by chief government
negotiator Jesus Dureza and Al-haj Murad for the MILF.
In Lucena, where he presided at the change of command ceremony for the new chief
of the AFP Southern Luzon Command, Cimatu was emphatic about the issue of
returning the MILF camps. "I would like to tell them: no way the MILF shall get
back their camps."
But he added that the AFP would abide by the provisions in the agreement that
would address rehabilitation and reconstruction, adding that "the soldier will
agree to anything that will lead to honorable peace for Mindanao and for our
country."
In Cotabato City, Dureza clarified news reports that Gonzales had no authority to
sign the agreements. "He has the mandate," Dureza said.
Earlier, former Maguindanao Representative and now MILF technical adviser Michael
Mastura said they could not continue dealing with Dureza because the chief
government negotiator claimed to have limited powers.
Mastura said Dureza had told the MILF panel, prior to the signing of the agreements,
that "he is not authorized to commit."
Maj. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, the new Southern Command chief in Mindanao, admitted
that it was really hard for the government to run after criminals who have sought
refuge inside MILF "territory."
But it would be different from hereon, he said, because the rebel group had
signed the agreements.
Philippines Daily Inquirer, 24 May 2002
NO AMENDMENTS TO MILF PACT, SAYS PALACE: Malacanang rejected yesterday calls to
amend a new agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), insisting
the Kuala Lumpur pact did not contain flaws.
Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable also challenged critics to detail what
amendments they seek.
Some lawmakers have slammed provisions allowing the return of 8,000 guerrillas
to Camp Abubakar, the main rebel headquarters captured by the Estrada
administration, and reparation for people who lost property during armed
conflict two years ago.
"The parties shall safely return evacuees to their places of origin and provide
all necessary financial/material and technical assistance … for them to start
a few life," states the agreement. "The GRP shall award reparations for the
properties lost or destroyed by reasons of the conflict, upon reasonable proof
thereon, as mutually verified and acknowledged by both parties."
Malacanang has said it would put up checkpoints to prevent rebels from setting
up camp again.
Another bone of contention is the MILF’s authority to put up a rehabilitation
committee that can "receive and disburse private and government funds." Critics
warn the proviso could allow the guerrilla organization to siphon funds for arms
buildup.
But Afable expressed confidence that officials would successfully defend
the pact on Wednesday, when Congress holds a hearing on the controversy.
Manila Times, 20 May 2002
MACAPAGAL DEFENDS PACT WITH MILF: CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – President Macapagal-Arroyo
said Wednesday there was nothing in a recent agreement signed by the government
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that returned captured rebel camps to the MILF.
"There was nothing in that agreement that said former MILF camps (would) be
returned to them. Nothing, nothing, nothing. There was nothing in that agreement
that talked about the MILF at all," said an irate Ms Macapagal to reporters at the
Pryce Plaza Hotel here.
She said the pact signed in Malaysia, which provided for government-MILF cooperation
in the fight against crime and terrorism, would fast-track rehabilitation and
development in Mindanao.
Some congressmen were not convinced, however. The House defense committee is set
to review the six agreements entered into by the government of the Republic of
the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF.
"Definitely, we will have to review the agreements because if there are provisions
that violate the Constitution and are prejudicial to the interests of the Filipino
people, we will ask the government to renegotiate them," said Surigao del Sur Rep.
Prospero Pichay Jr., defense committee chair.
Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat called on the government to renegotiate the six
agreements as these, he said, constitute surrender to the MILF.
Ms Macapagal said that in order to fast-track rehabilitation of the war-torn areas
of Mindanao, she issued Memorandum No. 61 on May 9 dividing the region into
several sectors.
Philippines Daily Inquirer, 17 May 2002
PALACE SETTLES MISGIVINGS ABOUT GRP-MILF PACT, SAYS AFABLE: Malacanang yesterday
said it has ironed out ‘certain misgivings’ about the agreement government had
signed with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur
last week.
And in a bid to appease the secessionist front, President Macapagal-Arroyo
yesterday instructed her Cabinet to accelerate the rehabilitation and development
projects of former MILF camps and other war-ravaged areas in Mindanao.
The President issued the instruction after meeting her Cabinet officials Monday
night in Malacanang to thresh out the controversies surrounding the GRP-MILF accord.
Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable said the issues raised against the
agreement by some sectors have been settled during the meeting.
Afable admitted the meeting was called by the President to correct "misconceptions
or misunderstanding of the provisions of the agreement."
Afable said the President wanted the rehabilitation and development projects
in conflict-affected areas to be rapidly carried out so that evacuees who would
be returning to their homes would have a decent shelter.
The President, according to Afable, has instructed officials of the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao to lead in implementing projects in war-torn areas
within the ARMM while the Southern Philippine Development Administration (SPDA)
will take the lead in other areas in Mindanao.
The President said the national government would give full assistance to ARMM
and SPDA’s regional officers in the implementation of the projects.
Afable also noted that the MILF would play a role in rehabilitation and development
of conflict-affected areas as stated in the agreement.
Afable said the MILF would have a project implementing body, a non-government
organization, recognized by the ARMM and all government instrumentalities.
Meanwhile, Afable said more than 700,000 families who were displaced at the height
of the government’s war against the MILF had returned to their original homes or
to their new chosen homes.
Manila Times, 15 May 2002
ISNAJI ELECTED; REPLACES NUR MISUARI AS MNLF CHAIRMAN: ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) Central Committee yesterday unanimously elected
interim Alvarez Isnaji as chairman of the front to replace detained Nur Misuari.
Central committee members and supporters also named Melham Alam vice chairman.
Also appointed were: Secretary General Estin Jairi, Lt. Gen. Rasul Rahdi,
deputy secretary general for Political Affairs; Lt. Gen. Talib Congo, deputy
secretary general for Military Affairs; Lt. Gen. Nur Nachai, deputy secretary
general for Administration; Lt. Gen Benhur Dandan, chairman for Foreign Affairs;
and Lt. Gen. Mujahab Hashim, chairman for South Asia Pacific Development Plan.
The group also named Finance Committee Chairman Habib Jain Jali as chairman of
the National People’s Congress.
Ustadz Arsad Hassan was appointed as Chief Justice of the Islamic Court; Hadji
Gajir Ismael, chief National Air Defense (BAF); Silbi Tiblani, chief National
Striking Force (BIAF).
Isnaji said the election of the new committee officials would resolve once and
for all the chairmanship issue in the MNLF.
He said the MNLF could now strengthen its position in the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) by being able to send a clear representation to the
scheduled Islamic Countries Foreign Ministers Conference in Sudan on June 20.
With the new leadership, the continuous implementation of the peace agreement
with the government is assured, he said.
He said Misuari is aware of the meeting that replaced him as chairman while he
is still in detention in Laguna.
Isnaji said the MNLF will discuss with the government the possibility of
allowing Misuari to seek asylum abroad.
Manila Times, 5 April 2002
GRP, MILF NEGOTIATORS SIGN JOINT COMMUNIQUE: COTABATO — Philippine government
and Muslim rebel panels opened new talks on Wednesday to try to avoid renewed
fighting amid allegations linking local Islamic guerrillas with Osama bin
Laden’s al-Qaida network.
The two parties signed a joined communiqué, urging the Organization of Islamic
Conference to conduct an investigation. The talk, held at the Estosan Garden
Hotel here involved senior Philippine army officers and field commanders of
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s biggest Islamic rebel group.
MILF Spokesman Eid Kabalu said the joint statement by the GRP-MILF coordinating
committee would ensure that "any violation shall be investigated by an objective
third party."
Both sides expressed concern over "the recent outbreak of hostilities" in the
towns of Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, Datu Piang and Talayan, in Maguindanao
province. It blamed the violence on political personalities who managed to draw
the MILF and the AFP into the fray. The joint communiqué also acknowledged the
clashes "undermined to some extent the integrity and conduct of the peace
negotiations."
Manila Times, 15 March 2002
MILF REPLENISHES ARSENAL: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has replenished
its arsenal, which already includes missiles that can take out low-flying aircraft,
to defend itself from an all-out assault by the military, a top MILF official
has told the Manila Times.
MILF military chief Al Hadj Murad, interviewed on Friday, said the weapons were
purchased from international arms dealers.
Most of the guns, Mura said, came from countries supporting the MILF’s struggle
for self-determination. He did not say who those countries are, although in
the past Libya and Indonesia had supplied the group with arms.
Murad said the latest arms acquisitions were made over the last year, even as
MILF representatives negotiated peace with the Arroyo administration.
He said that as long as a peace agreement has not been signed, the MILF has the
right to stockpile arms in case negotiations collapse.
Citing recent Armed Forces attacks against MILF positions, Murad said the decision
to replenish its arsenal was a "wise move."
He also admitted the MILF maintains caches of explosives across Mindanao, but
stressed these would be only used "defensively" against encroaching government
troops. He denied AFP charges that the separatist group has been involved in
bombing incidents, including the Rizal Day 2000 explosions in Metro Manila that
killed 27 persons and injured 93 others.
Among the new arms are surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) capable of downing
helicopters and low-flying planes, he said.
Murad said the MILF has enough arms for 60 percent of its 55,000 organized forces.
This would translate to around 35,000 fighters. The Armed Forces claims the MILF
has only half that number of guerrillas.
Aside from SAMs, the MILF also has anti-tank weapons and new artillery supplies,
Murad said.
Manila Times, 11 February 2002
SUPREME COURT RULES MISUARI ARREST LEGAL: The Supreme Court junked Tuesday
detained Moro leader Nur Misuari’s petition to be released from police
custody for lack of merit.
The SC also denied Misuari’s motion asking for oral arguments on his petition,
which was filed on Jan. 10.
In junking the petitions, the SC said the petitioners "failed to show any prima
facie or patent illegality in their detention that will warrant the issuance of
the writ of habeas corpus."
The high court explained that habeas corpus was "a prerogative writ directed
to a person detaining another, commanding the former to produce the body of
the latter at a designated time and place."
The SC said the writ could be issued only if Misuari could prove that his
detention was patently illegal or improper.
The SC said Misuari could not dispute that there was a pending rebellion case
against him and his aides; the order of arrest issued by the trial court had
been implemented; and the venue of the rebellion case had been transferred to
Branch 36 of the regional trial court of Calamba, Laguna.
Philippines Daily Inquirer, 6 February 2002
MILF PROTESTS ‘SMEAR’ CAMPAIGN: Amid accusations of a tie-up between terrorist
groups and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Muslim secessionist
group yesterday revealed plans of raising the issue during the resumption of
peace negotiations this month.
MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said that such accusations are nothing new to their
group and that they have been expecting fingers to eventually point at them.
The charges, he said, are aimed at creating a condition "to justify action
against us."
He cited instances where military officials linked the MILF to the Abu Sayyaf
Group (ASG), the Pentagon kidnap for ransom group. The latest charge involves
alleged links to the Southeast Asian cell of the al-Qaida terrorist network,
the Jemaah Islamiyah.
Kabalu, however, claimed his group has already received vindication.
The MILF, he pointed out, has been cleared of involvement in the kidnapping
stunts of the ASG.
National police officials, he added, have already admitted that the Pentagon
group was the creation of the police intelligence community in Davao.
MILF representatives would raise the issue in a meeting of the coordinating
committees on the cessation of hostilities on Feb. 11 and 12, he said.
A top military official said he has no doubts about the sincerity of MILF leaders.
However, he insisted the ruling council of the separatist group does not
exercise complete control over its field men.
He pointed out that the ASG and the Pentagon have been able to use known
territories of the MILF because territorial commanders are more radical and
violent, and often relatives of the terrorists.
Manila Times, 3 February 2002
‘ILAGA’ VIGILANTES BEING REVIVED AGAINST MUSLIMS: Christian vigilantes in
the Cotabato region are reviving the Ilagas, a fanatical band that terrorized
Muslims in the ’70s and spawned cold-blooded killers like Norberto Manero.
An intelligence source said the group has rekindled its old vow: The
extermination of Muslims.
The source said veteran Ilagas are in Manila on a campaign to raise funds.
"We are closely monitoring the Ilagas here and in Cotabato. They are on
the move again and that could be very dangerous," he told the Manila Times.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Ilagas are
talking about ethnic cleansing as the only solution to peace in Mindanao.
"They appear to be serious about wiping out Muslims, at least in the
Cotabato region," he said.
In Basilan and Sulu, Christians are in the minority. There is a danger
that if Ilagas, or any other Christian group, begin singling out Muslims
in their attacks, Christians in the predominantly Muslim areas of Mindanao
will also be attacked.
In the 1970s and ’80s, the Ilaga movement, under the leadership of Manero
acted as judge, jury, and executioner to hundreds of Muslim and communist
insurgents. Manero was convicted on several counts of homicide and frustrated
murder in 1985 and was pardoned by then President Joseph Estrada in 2000.
Asked if he believed that Manero was involved in the revival of the Ilagas,
the source said, "I don’t think so. There is nothing to indicate that yet.
But the Ilagas are not lacking of leadership." He refused to explain further.
The Ilagas are believed to have been formed in 1973 by seven Christian
leaders of Cotabato. Its first chief is said to have been Feliciano Luces
who carried the alias "Toothpick."
The Ilagas first rose to notoriety in March 22, 1970, when Luces reportedly
led a band of Tiruray tribesmen, the first Ilaga recruits, in attacking a
Muslim village in Upi, Cotabato. Luces’ group butchered six villagers, cutting
off their ears and plucking out their eyes.
Soon, other Ilaga groups sprouted in Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga
del Sur. Despite the group’s penchant for ruthlessness, the government
recruited the Ilagas in the fight against Muslim insurgents.
Manila Times, 23 January 2002
GOV’T MEN RUSH TO EASE JOLO TENSION: Government officials spent the whole day
in Jolo yesterday trying to defuse the tension following the bloodbath triggered
by an exchange of fire between soldiers and police personnel.
Close to 30 people were killed in downtown Jolo in two bloody incidents Tuesday
night and Wednesday morning.
Police officials have pulled out all 439 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
police integrees assigned in Jolo. Yesterday, the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing
Team (MBLT) was ordered redeployed to Buuk, Sulu. Eventually, the team may
be transferred to Palawan, according to Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya, deputy Chief
of Staff and acting armed Forces spokesperson.
Members of the 2nd MBLT and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Sulu Mobile
Unit fired at each other during a rally of supporters of detained Muslim leader
Nur Misuari last Tuesday.
The incident resulted in the death of nine Marines, one Army integree, two PNP
integrees and six civilians.
Hours later, three Scout Rangers shopping in the Jolo market were seized
reportedly by PNP integrees and beheaded by angry residents.
Abaya said the situation in Jolo has returned to normal.
He said the Army’s 104th Brigade commander Col. Arturo Tolentino denied reports
that some schools and business establishments closed down for fear of further
violence.
Abaya told a news briefing at Camp Aguinaldo the military and the police leadership
agreed to let the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) take the lead role in
investigating the carnage.
The Armed Forces inspector general and his counterpart in the PNP would also
be part of the investigating team, he said.
Military, police and local officials met in Jolo to come up with measures to
ease the tension.
Among those who attended were newly-elected governor of the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Parouk Hussin and Sulu Gov. Yusop Jikiri.
Abaya said the officials agreed to ship out the PNP Sulu Mobile Group, which
is composed entirely of MNLF integrees, from Jolo to Camp Pendatum in Parang,
Maguindanao.
Manila Times, 18 January 2002
JAAFAR: MISUARI’S FATE SCARES MILF LEADERS: SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao—The
separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has expressed doubts over the
government’s sincerity in pursuing the peace negotiations, stressing what
happened to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder and former ARMM
governor Nur Misuari, may also happen to other Moro leaders.
MILF vice chairman for Political Affairs Ghaadzali Jaafar said the detention
of Misuari has added to the apprehension of some Moro leaders in Mindanao
about President Arroyo’s honesty in dealing with them.
Jaafar made these pronouncements here, shortly before the government and MILF
peace panels’ Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) were to
meet for the first time at the Estosan Garden Hotel in Cotabato City
Saturday afternoon.
Jaafar said Misuari had signed with government the 1996 peace agreement.
Jaafar said they have been wary over government’s sincerity in forging a peace
pact because of recent experiences.
The "all-out-war" waged by deposed president Joseph Estrada in 2000, Jaafar
cited, showed government’s insincerity in resolving the problem through
peaceful means. "The GRP and MILF at that time were holding peace talks
and there was even an agreement on the general cessation of hostilities
but then president Estrada declared a total war against the Bangsamoro
people," he said. "The government should not have done that," he said.
Under the Arroyo administration, which earlier promised to wage an
"all-out peace" in Mindanao, the government and MILF resumed peace negotiations.
But Jaafar said that in November, despite the fact that there had been
three rounds of formal peace talks and guidelines that had been made for
the implementation of the 1997 general cessation of hostilities,
the military in its pursuit operations against suspected members of
the notorious Pentagon kidnap gang in Bulod village, Pikit, North Cotabato,
went for the MILF troops in the area, not the suspected kidnappers.
Manila Times, 14 January 2002
MISUARI ‘GLAD TO BE HOME’ – EX-MNLF CHIEF MAKES JOURNEY FROM MALAYSIA TO LAGUNA:
Told that he was flying back to the Philippines after 45 days of detention
in Malaysia, Nur Misuari whispered, "There’s no place like home."
About five hours later, the former Muslim guerrilla fighter was in a detention
facility in Laguna that for a while housed ousted president Joseph Estrada.
Malaysian officials yesterday turned over Misuari to a Philippine delegation
led by Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza and Lucas
Managuelod, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for
Investigation and Detective Management.
Malaysian police also handed over six Misuari followers who had been caught
with him in Malaysian waters off Sabah.
The turnover of Misuari and one of his men, Abu Harris Osman, took place at
the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Subang Jaya at 8:45 a.m.
A second batch of PNP officials, headed by Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group (CIDG) Director Nestorio Gualberto, fetched the other
five followers of Misuari.
The Philippine Air Force C-130 transport plane bearing Misuari and the
arresting team touched down at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City at 1:41 p.m.
He was immediately transferred to a helicopter that took him to the PNP
Special Action Force School in Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The group from Kota Kinabalu arrived at the Villamor Air Base on an Air
Force Fokker and were driven to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.
At a press conference in Camp Crame, PNP chief Leandro Mendoza said Misuari’s
stay in Fort Sto. Domingo is temporary and that he would eventually be
transferred to another detention facility.
There were reports that Misuari was to be brought to Fort Magsaysay in Laur,
Nueva Ecija.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will ask for a transfer of venue for Misuari’s
trial for rebellion from Jolo, Sulu, to somewhere in Luzon.
Dureza said he found Misuari in good spirits at the holding area of the
Subang Jaya base.
At a separate press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces spokesperson
Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said they are just waiting for the court to decide
on who should take custody of Misuari.
Adan said the military is "prepared to secure the person of Mr. Misuari
against any possible threat to his life."
Presidential Spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao said President Arroyo finalized
the details of Misuari’s return to the Philippines with Malaysian
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad over the phone on Saturday.
Manila Times, 18 January 2002
NEW ARMM CHIEF: NO MERCY FOR NUR: No special treatment will be given to
fugitive guerrilla leader Nur Misuari once he is repatriated from Malaysia,
newly sworn-in governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Parouk Hussin said yesterday.
He claimed Misuari’s attempt to keep himself in power resulted in the deaths
of 47 civilians, mostly women, children and old people.
Misuari is expected to be repatriated by mid-January after nearly two months
stay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He escaped to Sabah after his followers
attacked a military detachment in Sulu days before the Nov. 24 ARMM polls.
Hussin and Misuari have been at loggerheads since the latter’s ouster as
chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which has renewed
its secessionist struggle.
Misuari charged Hussin of conniving with government to unseat him in exchange
for its support to Hussin’s political aspirations to head the ARMM.
Hussin was sworn-in yesterday as the new ARMM governor, despite a petition
filed by ARMM officer-in-charge Isnaji Alvarez to allow him to run the
region for another year, which was supposedly what was stated by law.
"Yes he asked for a temporary restraining order, but the Court of Appeals
(CA) already set the (petition) aside," President Arroyo assured.
Manila Times, 7 January 2002
