Duterte says he urged court to let Nur Misuari travel

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte had asked the court to let Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion and graft charges, leave the country to attend conferences abroad.

Duterte said he assured “authorities” and the court that Misuari would return to the country to face his cases. 

The MNLF founder traveled to the United Arab Emirates to attend the 46th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Council of Foreign Ministers. Misuari will also fly to Morocco to participate in the 14th session of the Parliamentary Union of OIC member states.

“Now Misuari came to my office the other night because he wanted to go out. He was not allowed, he has cases,” Duterte said during a campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan last Sunday in Zamboanga City. 

“I talked to the police, the military and the court to allow him. I was the one who guaranteed them that he would come back,” he added. 

Duterte said Misuari does not want to die in another country. 

“Misuari, a true Tausug, would never allow that he be buried in a foreign land. I’m sure of that. That’s why he will come back and help us build a nation,” the President said. 

Misuari has been charged with rebellion over the 2013 Zamboanga siege, which claimed the lives of more than 200 people. He is also facing graft and malversation charges over the supposed irregularities in the purchase of more than P77 million worth of “ghost” textbooks when he was still governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 

Duterte previously said he does not meddle with the activities of state agencies. 

‘Persuasion, not interference’

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo claimed Duterte’s move did not violate the principle of separation of powers of the independent branches of government. He said there is no problem with “persuasion” if it was done for “national interest.” 

“Perhaps he was referring to somebody who will relay the message to the courts. I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday.  

“After all, the three branches (of government) should help each other for the country. A branch cannot be inflexible if the consequence would be the destruction of our nation. But it’s a different story if you impose your will on another branch. That’s interference,” he added. 

Panelo said the courts would not allow themselves to be coerced or intimidated by anyone in the country. He claimed Duterte was not interfering with the work of the court but was merely explaining the important role Misuari plays in the peace efforts in Mindanao. 

“There are many ways of presenting your position – you can express it verbally nationwide; you can express it privately to other people so it can reach the intended recipients. What is important – it’s his duty to preserve this country,” Panelo said.

Earlier, Duterte admitted there were “rumblings” among MNLF members who felt they did not have enough representation in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the body that will govern the new Bangsamoro region until 2022.