Bad weather, poor satellite signals hinder Misuari’s interview

MANILA, Philippines - Poor cell site signal and bad weather prevented the airing of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari’s statement  on the ongoing crisis in Zamboanga.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel yesterday, Misuari was supposed to be interviewed from his hideout by journalists through phone patch but Typhoon Odette wiped out satellite signals in many parts of the country.

Rex Bugarin, legal counsel of Misuari, instead directed MNLF spokesmen Absalom Cerveza and Emmanuel Fontanilla to answer questions at the forum through moderator Joey Lina, a former senator.

The MNLF spokesmen blamed government forces for starting the war in Zamboanga after they allegedly shot at their men wanting to declare Bangsamoro independence in front of Zamboanga city hall weeks ago.

They warned that hostilities would spill all over Mindanao as “Moro and Christian armed groups had united to pursue the independence of Mindanao.”

Cerveza said the filing of criminal charges against Misuari would have no impact because the group would file counter charges against the government “for the burning and destruction of Zamboanga City.”

“We will bring the case to the International Court,” he said.

Fontanilla, for his part, insisted that the government cancelled the tripartite review of the 1996 peace agreement when it signed an agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), forcing Misuari to declare independence and begin a series of peace caravans as they waited for the United Nations’ action on their petition for self rule.

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) told the MNLF that the government has terminated the tripartite review of the full implementation of the 1996 peace agreement, paving the way for the MNLF to go back to its original political objective of independence.

Fontanilla said the OIC through the Indonesian embassy in Davao City on Thursday has relayed its desire for the full implementation of the 1996 peace accord but the standoff between the government and the MNLF “is irreversible.”

“It’s back to square one, and since the government position is irreversible, the stand of the MNLF for seeking independence of Mindanao is also final,” Fontanilla said.

However, the recognition of the MNLF as permanent observer in the 57-member Islamic body remains and Misuari would continue to occupy his seat during meetings and assemblies of the OIC, he said.

He added that the OIC recognized the MNLF under the leadership of Misuari as the representative of the Bangsamoro people in the Philippines.

Cerveza said the MNLF is now focused on following up with the United Nations its position for the “decolonization of  Mindanao” by recognizing it as an independent state.

The territory of the “Bangsamoro Republik” (BMR) declared by Misuari includes Sabah and Sarawak, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Palawan.

Cerveza said the “interim Constitution” of BMR had been submitted to the UN in New York, a day after Misuari declared independence in Sulu on Aug 12.

He claimed that “the declaration of independence has the blessing of the OIC which transmitted the BMR constitution to the UN.”

Fontanilla said the OIC, in a resolution, has urged the Philippine government to synchronize the framework agreement with the MNLF. However, he said the resolution was ignored by the government.

Under the proposed BMR constitution, the form of government will be federal with Muslims, Christians and highlanders sharing equal powers in the government.