This was not the first of Misuari’s demands, frank or otherwise, that Duterte had favorably considered.
Palace officials, particularly President Spokesman Salvador Panelo has belabored trying to clarify or interpret what Duterte had clearly said to show him as being “in control”. In doing so, he only highlighted the obvious.
In this latest episode, Duterte revealed their conversation during a campaign speech – not in an interview or through a Palace source – Misuari’s demand for federalization as promised to him by President Corazon C. Aquino and threat of war if denied. He told his audience, among them reporters, his thoughts and response to Misuari:
“So meron ako isang revolution pa. Sabi ni Misuari kagabi, ‘If you do not give it to me, let me be very honest. I will go to war’”.
“Sabi ko, ‘I understand that, Nur. So ganito na lang gawin natin. Let’s form a panel because you have to inform the people. We cannot negotiate secretly here’”. (Quoted from “The Philippine Star, March 22, 2019: Federalism or war? Gov’t ready for Nur Misuari”, one of the thirteen reports from nine national media online that repetitiously quoted Duterte with slight variations.)
To the above, Panelo added, quoting the President, “Whatever the product of that discussion, they will have a one-on-one meeting. And then he said, ‘After which, we will celebrate for its success; and if it fails, we will die together…’ – that was the response of the President”.
What is not clear in the quoted conversation? In all the thirteen reports we have compiled, not one carried what Panelo quoted. Did Duterte say what Panelo quoted him to have said?
Panelo clarified that the President had meant to rebuff Misuari and issue his counter-threat. Is that in the conversation? Clarifying or interpreting what is clear only complicates the puzzle.
Question No. 1
What does Misuari have to easily win for him special favors from President Duterte?
To Duterte Misuari is a great revolutionary who is the key to lasting peace in Mindanao. From the very start of his administration he sought the presence of Misuari in the final resolution of the Moro problem regardless of the Government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front Agreement just waiting for the final act of the Congress. The 17th Congress could have passed the final act, RA 11054, a year earlier had the rewriting of the bill not been delayed because Misuari could not come out of hiding until November 2017 — after the suspension of his arrest order for rebellion through the intercession of the President.
But to his co-rebel leaders and co-founders of the MNLF, as a revolutionary, as a peace negotiator, as a local government executive and peace maker, he is discredited.||| |||buy flexeril online with |||