Zamboanga City gov't opposes plan to lift warrant for Misuari's arrest

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Phillippines - The Zamboanga City government opposed the idea of the House panel to suspend the warrant of arrest against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chair Nur Misuari to allow the former in the public hearing of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar told the Star at the sidelines of a press briefing on Monday that the local government unit and the residents of the city wanted justice to be done against Misuari and his followers who were responsible in the September 2013 bloody siege.

Misuari who remains at large and suspected to be under the refuge of his followers in Sulu has a standing warrant of arrest on charges of rebellion and violation of international humanitarian law of the Philippines, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

The Congress is eyeing to lift the arrest order against Misuari so he could be part of the discussions on the BBL as leader of the MNLF.

“On our part as what I’ve said let justice be served which is necessary to the case that we filed, and they have to respond to it necessarily,” Salazar said.

She said whatever is the diplomatic implication, if the Congress pushes through with the suspension of the warrant against Misuari as a safe conduct pass, “the Department of Justice owes us the explanation.”

“But if we are to follow they have a pending case,” Salazar said.

Meanwhile, the MNLF senior leader said the MNLF Misuari faction will not participate in the deliberation of the BBL law as it will run counter to its strong opposition to the agreement forged by the government with the MILF.

“It’s not a question whether we allow the chairman or not, the MNLF can not and will not participate,” Habib Mujahab Hashim, MNLF chair for the Islamic Command Council said.

Hashim said from the very start they were opposed to the agreement of the MILF citing it as tantamount to the abrogation of the existing 1996 final peace agreement of the MNLF.

The MNLF Misuari group instead maintained its request for the government to drop the case to give Misuari an asylum to represent the MNLF, being the sole group recognized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.