Duterte: Misuari to declare war if federalism is rejected
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:10:08 +0000
MORO National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari has threatened to declare war against the government if federalism is not passed, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday.
The President said Misuari made the threat during a meeting in Malacañang late Tuesday.
Misuari met with Duterte upon his return from his trip to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
The MNLF leader told the President that his group wants a federal system because it was an undelivered promise of former President Cory Aquino.
“Misuari said last night that if you do not give it to me, let me be very honest, I will go to war,” Duterte said in a speech during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally in Marikina City on Wednesday.
The President said he assured Misuari that he understands his stand and that the government would form a panel since the two sides cannot negotiate secretly.
“I told him, day-to-day they will be briefed, how will they want the federal system? Will it be like the Bangsamoro Organic Law or a different type?” he said.
The shift to federalism was one of the campaign promises of Duterte.
The House of Representatives had passed its version of charter change bill but senators had declared that federalism was “dead in the water.” Ralph Edwin U. Villanueva
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