President Rodrigo Duterte lifted the pending warrant of arrest against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari to get started on the peace talks in Mindanao. The President even said he was “very grateful” to Misuari for accepting his invitation to talk to the Philippine government.
“It is with great happiness that I announce to the nation that Chairman Nur Misuari, our brother who heads the MNLF, has finally decided to just accept my invitation for him to talk to us. He has obliged and we are very grateful,” Duterte said.
On his part, Misuari also thanked Duterte for restoring his “partial” freedom.
“I came here to thank him (Duterte) for restoring my freedom, if only partially. I am so happy to be free again, owing to the initiative of our President,” Misuari said.
“For I believe, as I said during the campaign, that this one single man who can provide solution to the problem of peace and order in our homeland,” he added.
While Duterte and Misuari expressed their gratitude towards each other, some people were unsettled by the developments. The 20-day Zamboanga siege, allegedly led by Misuari, caused the death of about 200 soldiers, cops, rebels, and civilians and wounded hundreds more. Three years after the siege, almost 14,000 people still have to endure living in temporary shelters in transitory locations.
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One netizen also wanted to remind President Duterte about the heroes of the Zamboanga siege and how these developments with Misuari would appear to the families and loved ones of these heroes.
This is what Jover Laurio wrote:
“Dear President Duterte,
May ipapakilala po ako sa inyo. Yung unang pic po siya po si 1Lt John Kristopher Rama. Isa po sya sa mga nasawi sa barilan with Nur Misuari group during Zamboanga siege noong Sept 19, 2013 as Sta. Barbara.
Rama, 30, led his platoon from the 1st Light Reaction Company (LRC) of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in the assault of enemy positions. They had already killed several MNLF men at the time he was felled by enemy fire. May asawa po sya at isang anak. Namatay po syang lumalaban sa mga terroristang sumasakop sa Zamboanga.
Rama, a native of Norzagaray, Bulacan, was a member of PMA “Baghawi” (Bagong Halaw ng Lahi or New Filipino Race) Class of 2008.
Yung pangalawang picture po, sya po si Florencio Mikael Meneses. Tinamaan po siya ng isang sniper habang nagsasagawa ng clearing operation sa Brgy. Sta. Catalina. He was rushed to the Ciudad Zamboanga Hospital, where he was treated before he succumbed to his injuries at around 4:40 a.m. on Sept. 23. Namatay po syang tumutulong iligtas ang mga apektado ng kaguluhan na dinulot ng grupo ni Nur Misuari.
A native of Barangay Tibag, Pulilan, Bulacan, the snappy member of PMA “Laon Alab” Class of 2011 died a hero. Namatay po siya sa kaarawan mismo ng kasintahan niya. I want you to feel how painful it was sa girlfriend niya.
The 27-year-old hero was considered among the brave members of the 7th Scout Ranger Company of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion based in Basilan.
The third picture po is a PMA grad that the AFP lost in the Zamboanga siege was 1Lt. Francis Damian, 28 years old, of PMA “Maragtas” Class of 2007. He was wounded in a close-quarter battle in Barangay Sta. Barbara at 4:45 p.m. of Sept. 23 when he and his men fought a big contingent of MNLF men.
Alam nyo po ba kahit sugatan na sya, pinilit niya pa ding lumaban para sa bayan. Damian still managed to smile and encourage his troops, his men recalled, kahit umaagos ang dugo hindi niya inalintana kasi ang importante sa kaniya mailigtas ang nakakaraming kapatid sa Zamboanga na sinakop ng grupo ni Misuari.
The Maragtas officer, a member of the 3rd LRC of the Light Reaction Battalion of SOCOM, unfortunately did not survive his injuries. He died at 8:40 a.m. on Sept. 24 while being treated at the Ciudad Zamboanga Hospital.
Ang pang apat po na picture siya po Ian Pequot, 21 years old, Medal of Valor (posthumous awardee) . Intentionally put himself sa gitna ng barilan, para po iligtas ang team niya at ang bayan ng Zamboanga. Namatay syang bayani at nakikipaglaban para sa Filipino.
Siguro po nagtataka po kayo kung bakit pinakilala ko sila sa inyo. Kasi naisip ko baka po nakalimutan nyo po, kasi yung dahilan nang pagkamatay nila ay kinupkop nyo sa Malacañang kahapon. Pinawalang bisa nyo ang warrant of arrest nya, para nyo pang binigyan siya ng parangal sa pamamagitan ng pagpapagamit ng podium na nakalaan lamang sa presidente. Nahihirapan po akong maintindihan…
Naaapreaciate ko po na nilalakad nyo ang pang matagalang kapayapaan pero may tanong lang po ako.
Paano nyo po ipapaliwanag sa pamilya ng mga nasawi na ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng mga mahal nila sa buhay ay tuluyan nang makakalaya?
Paano nyo po ipapaliwanag sa mga kabataan na naipit sa gitna ng bakabakan na ang dahilan ng trauma nila ay maaaring mamuhay ng marangya kasi kinupkop nyo na po?
Paano nyo po ipapaliwanag sa mga kabataang naulila na ang dahilan sa pagpanaw ng kanilang ama ay malayang makakapamuhay na walang pakialam sa kanilang kalungkutan?
Paano mo ipapaliwanag sa myembro ng sandatahang lakas na ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng kanilang mga kasama ay pinawalang sala ng kanilang Commander-in-Chief?
Sir, ipapaalala ko lang po na ang pagiging presidente ay hindi nagsisimula at nagtatapos sa pakikipaglaban sa droga. May aspetong ekonomiya at hustisya din po.
Sa bawat pagbisita nyo sa mga kampo lagi niyong sinasabi you will always have their back, sa pagpa walang sala nyo kay Nur Misuari, paano nyo masasabi na you always have the best interest of the AFP?
Mahal na pangulo, I want you to remember their names and faces, baka sakali na lang marealize nyo po na….
MAKAKAMIT LAMANG ANG TUNAY NA KAPAYAPAAN, KUNG MAGKAKAROON MUNA NG HUSTISYA ANG MGA BUHAY NA NAWALA…”
You can see the photos of the fallen soldiers during the Zamboanga siege in her Facebook post below:
Duterte admitted on Monday, November 7, that Misuari did commit wrongdoings during the bloody siege in Zamboanga, but he said starting the peace process in Mindanao was more important, as of now.
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“Misuari is just around although may mga kasalanan nay an [sa] Zamboanga siege but what can I do? There is something more solvable for the moment than just continue hating each other,” Duterte said.
Duterte also noted Misuari’s key role in the peace process, hence the need to suspend his warrant.
“Nothing else would appease the Moro people,” said Duterte.
Sources: (facebook.com, newsinfo.inquirer.net, news.abs-cbn.com)
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