Misuari back by January — Arroyo

Malaysia will send jailed former governor Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Minda-nao (ARMM) back to the Philippines a few days after the New Year.

President Arroyo made the announcement yesterday when she visited Malaya Phase II in Caloocan City to celebrate with Muslim residents Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the month-long fasting of able-bodied Muslims.

"I will be able to announce the government’s plans for Misuari after New Year," she told reporters.

However, Mrs. Arroyo refused to comment on reports that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had proposed that Misuari be placed under the custody of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

"I have not seen officially that memo by the MILF," she said.

In Kuala Lumpur, Ambassador Jose Brillantes said Misuari will be freed "within days" but that the exact date would be kept secret for security reasons.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad said in his official residence in Putrajaya, south of Kuala Lumpur, that the date of Misuari’s deportation has not yet been decided, according to the official Bernama news agency.

"We have yet to decide the date," Bernama quoted him as saying.

But Brillantes said Misuari might be repatriated before Dec. 24 "if we go by Malaysia’s immigration laws," which provide that those arrested for illegal entry can be held for only up to 30 days.

Norberto Gonzales, presidential adviser on special concerns, told reporters yesterday he had carried a letter from Mrs. Arroyo to Kuala Lumpur last Thursday, in which the Chief Executive had asked Malaysia to keep Misuari detained over Christmas.

"We are discussing how (Misuari’s deportation) will not cause trouble," he said. "The (Christmas) holidays should be considered in discussing the handover."

However, Mahathir denied to reporters in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday that he had met and talked with Gonzales.

Mahathir has warned that Malaysia would deport the 60-year-old Misuari to a third country if the Philippines declined to take him back, but the prime minister refused to give details.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Mrs. Arroyo is "open to the option" of placing Misuari under the OIC’s custody.

"If Nur Misuari will be brought to any third country, it would be with the clearance of the Philippine government," he said. "When that option seems to be the best for us and to provide dignity to Mr. Misuari."

Tiglao said the government is still considering "a lot of factors" before evaluating the option of handing Misuari to the OIC after Malaysia decides to deport him.

"The best and most realistic option, following the rule of law, would be for (Misuari) to be brought back here and face the charges (against him)," he said.

Gonzales said he welcomes the proposal of MILF chairman Hashim Salamat that the OIC take custody of the former ARMM governor.

"The MILF proposal should be one of the possible talking points of Indonesian Foreign Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda, chairman of the OIC committee of the eight, who is scheduled to arrive in Manila this Dec. 20 to confer with President Arroyo in Malacañang," he said.

Gonzales said the government has several choices but that its decision on Misuari would be known after the meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and Wirajuda.

"Those are important points that need to be considered because I think the intention of all the parties is not to allow Nur Misuari to get away with what he did," he said.

"And the foreign minister of Indonesia is coming here precisely so that at least, whatever will be our decision on Nur, there will be a consensus because it is not only the Philippine government which has an interest in this case of Nur Misuari."

On the other hand sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saudi Arabia has not spoken for Misuari at the consultation meeting of the OIC’s committee of the eight in Doha, Qatar recently.

"During the consultation of the committee of the eight in Doha, Saudi Arabia was silent which means a positive thing for the Philippines because in previous meetings, it always spoke for Misuari," the sources said.

But foreign affairs officials, who asked for anonymity, said the silence of Saudi Arabia could not be interpreted to mean its lack of support and sympathy for Misuari.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly urged Malaysia to turn over Misuari to its officials instead of the Philippines, where he would surely be tried for rebellion.

Tiglao said there was no truth to reports that Malaysia is set to free Misuari once he had served a one-month prison term for illegal entry.

"And any move to deport (Misuari) tomorrow or early next year is coordinated with the Malaysians because they also have an interest as you said in talking with Nur Misuari and any move on the part of Malaysians is coordinated with us," he said.

Gonzales said officials of the foreign affairs department and the Philippine National Police are finalizing details on Misuari’s return to the country, which will not be later than next month.

"I was there last Thursday to really finalize already what needs to be done because the Dec. 24 deadline is fast approaching so we have to clarify already the procedures," he said.

Gonzales said select government officials will fly to Malaysia to escort Misuari back to the country. — Marichu Villanueva, Pia Lee-Brago