Misuari supports ARMM governor's peace, dev't initiatives

DETAINED Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Governor Nur Misuari has expressed full support to the peace and development program of ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan.

Misuari, who is presently confined for medical treatment at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, was visited by Governor Ampatuan along with his cabinet members and assemblymen of the Regional Assembly on Saturday and personally conveyed to the detained MNLF leader his deep gratitude for the MNLF support to his candidacy during the August 8, 2005 regional elections where Ampatuan won overwhelmingly over other candidates.

“We learned that you were hospitalized and so we came here with my cabinet members and members of the Regional Assembly to visit you and to personally convey to you our deep gratitude for your support during the elections. If necessary, I and my father (Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan) will help ask the government to speed up the resolution of your case,” Governor Ampatuan said.

Misuari, who is detained on charges of rebellion following the MNLF simultaneous attack in the province of Sulu and Zamboanga in November 2001, was elated with the visit of Governor Ampatuan and promised that the MNLF is behind the peace and development program of his administration.

“Thank you very much Governor for your visit, for your support and for honoring us. Thank you to the support of your father. I pray for your success in the ARMM and rest assured that the MNLF is in full support to your peace and development agenda. We need peaceful Mindanao and we hope that you will not frustrate our people. The long trouble in our homeland has thrown our people backward. We must work together to bring genuine peace in Mindanao,” a pale-looking Misuari said.

During the elections, Misuari issued directive while in detention to MNLF leaders and field commanders in the region to support the candidacy of Ampatuan whose campaign slogan was consultative and participatory leadership which gained for himself support from the local officials and constituents of the region.

Both leaders recognized the importance of peace in Mindanao as a key to economic progress.

Because of the security measures imposed by the Philippine National Police on the visitation of Misuari, Governor Ampatuan was allowed to enter first to Misuari’s room with only seven other companions.Those with him were Regional Vice Governor Ansaruddin Adiong, Executive Secretary Oscar Sampulna, ARMM Attorney-General Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, DSWD-ARMM Secretary Ruby Sahali, Protocol Officer Datu Benzar Ampatuan, Bureau of Public Information Executive Director Samson Gogo and Agriculture and Fisheries Secretary Sajid Druz Ali.

Other members of the visiting group were also allowed to enter by batch of eight members. Regional Assemblymen were led by Speaker Hatimil Hassan, who was also the former chairman of the just disbanded group of MNLF Executive Council of 15. (BPI-ARMM)