MNLF members continue to support 1996 peace deal

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - Thousands of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by its founding chair Nur Misuari concluded its consultative meeting in Sulu Monday sticking to the provisions of the 1996 final peace agreement it signed with the Philippine government, according to a security official.

Misuari also debunked reports that the massing of his followers was also a call for the declaration of independence in a bid to oppose  the government peace efforts with MNLF's breakaway faction – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Chairman Misuari expressed his full support to the GRP-MNLF agreement and debunked all allegations of MNLF declaring independence and conduct atrocities,” Col. Jose Joriel Cenabre, 2nd Marine Brigade and Task Force Sulu commander quoted the message of Sam Adju,  who was appointed spokesman during the MNLF gathering in Sulu.

Misuari hit the government earlier  after discovering the Philippine government has requested the Indonesian observer to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to put a “closure” on the tripartite review of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Final Agreement.

Many MNLF political leaders viewed the moved of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) as a violation to the agreement. The MNLF instead called on the government for the full implementation of the agreement.

Cenabre said the consultative meeting between Misuari and his members and combatants at Barangay Lampaki, Indanan town concluded peacefully on  Monday afternoon.

“The crowd dispersed orderly and  those who participated in the gathering had gone back to their places of origin without any untoward incident,” Cenabre said.

The police and military had placed the security in the region under red alert following the massing of the forces and members of the MNLF.

Cenabre said the security laid in Sulu  sought to preempt and avert other armed groups from sabotaging the convergence of the MNLF members during Misuari's visit.