Duterte assures court, police, military: Misuari will return to PH after trip

President Duterte has guaranteed that Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chair Nur
Misuari will return to the country after his foreign trip, saying he would never abandon his
homeland.

In his visit to Zamboanga City Sunday, the President admitted he asked the cout, the military and
police to allow Misuari to travel abroad and assured them he would not escape.

“Misuari came to me sa opisina ko the other night because he wanted to go, he was not allowed
to go out kasi may kaso siya,” he said during the PDP-Laban party campaign rally.

“Kinausap ko ang pulis pati military, pati ang korte na palabasin siya. Ako ang nag guarantee
that he will come back [I talked to the police, the military and the court to allow him to leave. I
gave the guarantee that he will come back],” he said.

Duterte assured the court about the return of Misuari to the country “to help us build a nation.”

“Misuari a true Tausug would never allow that he be buried in a foreign land. Sigurado ako diyan
[I am certain about that]. That’s why he will come back and help us build a nation,” he said.

The Sandiganbayan recently granted Misuari’s motion to travel to the United Arab Emirates and
Morocco this month. He is scheduled to attend the summits of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers as well as the 14th Session of the Parliamentary Union
of Islamic Cooperation Member States. Misuari e supposedly left the country last February 27
and will return not later than March 20.

Prior to the court decision, the President met briefly with Misuari at the Palace last Monday after
he revealed the rumblings in the MNLF about the interim government that will govern the new
Bangsamoro autonomous region.

It was in the same meeting where Misuari’s travel request was apparently discussed.

In an earlier speech in Basilan, the President confirmed making arrangements to let Misuari
leave the country, assuring he would not escape. He said Misuari would “never abandon” the
country.

“Tinawagan ko ‘yung mga — well of course the authority, at sinabi ko payagan mo na lang,
hindi ‘yan sisibat. Nur Misuari will never abandon his country and I’m sure that he would only
prepare to die in this native land,” he said during the groundbreaking of the Isabela City gym
Sunday afternoon.

Duterte, who recently wanted to talk to Misuari to advance the peace process in the south, earlier
directed the government troops to give safe passage to the former ARMM leader amid his travel.