Nur Misuari given task to help free Abu Sayyaf hostages

MANILA, Philippines — Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari was conspicuously absent at yesterday’s oathtaking of officials of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, but President Duterte urged him to help in backchannel negotiations for the release of three foreign hostages of the Abu Sayyaf.

Misuari is opposed to the abolition of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which he used to head. He is considered to be a wild card in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. 

“I would appeal to Nur Misuari to stop it,” Duterte said, urging the Muslim leader to intervene and stop the Abu Sayyaf from beheading the hostages.

“And tell the Abu Sayyaf that, ‘Look we’re talking.’ Don’t make it hard for us to seek peace in our land,” he said.

In a chance interview, Duterte said he has tasked known Mindanao leaders to reach out to Misuari to further pursue peace with the MNLF.

“I commissioned a few of them. Specifically, (deputy presidential peace adviser) Nabil Tan, Gerry Salapuddin and a member of the Alonto clan. Salapuddin used to be congressman of Basilan. I told him, you break the ground there and I will talk to Nur. Whatever. No conditionalities,” the President said.

“Makinig muna ako sa kanya, tapos kung makinig siya sa akin (I will listen to him first, and then when he listens to me). And maybe in God’s own time, we will have (peace), then it’s complete,” he said.