Duterte apologizes to Misuari for delay in 'enforcing agreements'
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has apologized to Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari during their meeting Monday night, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
Duterte and Misuari are set to meet again as their meeting the previous night lasted for only about 15 minutes.
"What transpired last night was the president told the chairman that he admired his patience and he apologized for not having implemented whatever agreements that they had previously with respect to federalism," Panelo said in a Malacañang briefing Tuesday.
Misuari leads one faction of the MNLF.
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When Duterte assumed office in June 30, 2016, the president promised to honor and implement peace agreements with the MNLF, as well as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
"My administration is committed to implement all signed peace agreements," Duterte said in his inaugural speech. The president then hinted that the peace agreements would be pursued as the country shifts to a federal form of government.
It is unclear which aspects of the peace agreements Duterte meant but an eight-year review of the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF that was concluded in 2016 led to an agreement to implement four key areas:
- Establishment of the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund to be used for socio-economic development projects in MNLF communities
- Referral of the agreement on the co-management of strategic minerals to the Oversight Committee created by Republic Act 9054
- For the MNLF to participate in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission of the envisioned Bangsamoro Parliament
- And for the creation of a tripartite implementation monitoring committee
MNLF woes on BTA composition
The president and Misuari, meanwhile, did not discuss the supposed complaints on the composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority that have been raised by other members of the MNLF.
There have been complaints from representatives that only 12 MNLF and affiliates entered the 80-member BTA that Duterte swore into office last week.
"As I said, most of the time, I think it was the president expressing himself and nothing was touched on with respect to that," Panelo said.
Echoing the position of presidential adviser on the peace process Carlito Galvez Jr., Panelo stressed that there has been "equitable distribution" on the representation in the BTA.
"Maybe he meant equitable not in equally in terms of numbers but on how effective the representation would be with respect to the goals of the BTA," Panelo said.
Galvez earlier said the 80-member transition body would be tasked of shaping the formal structure of the new Bangsamoro region, including the crafting of the electoral, local government, education, administrative, revenue and civil service codes.
The members of the BTA would be the sole prerogative of Duterte, Galvez said.
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