"Misuari is organizing his new troops. He is (forming) one command called mutallah," said Sulu Gov. Yusoph Jikiri.
Jikiri is a member of the "Council of 15" which took over the helm of the MNLF after ousting Misuari last April for what they claimed was loss of trust and confidence in his leadership.
Jikiri said Misuari considers his mutallah force the new breed of freedom fighters.
He, however, said that despite Misuari’s attempts to consolidate his forces, "they can no longer get back the support of the new council" which, he added, is backed by majority of the MNLF’s veteran fighters.
"I don’t think these new recruits of Misuari are capable of making certain disturbances," he said. — Roel Pareño