Gov't mishandled Misuari problem - Abp Capalla

The government failed in handling the problem with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and chair Nur Misuari, Archbishop Fernando Capalla, co-convenor of the Mindanao Bishops-Ulama Forum (BUF) said.

Capalla said Misuari, if handled well, could have played a significant role in the strengthening and enhancing the 1996 government-MNLF peace pact as he is still an important figure in the Moro rebellion and many of his people in the MNLF still consider him their leader.

But Misuari, he said, is also a key figure who can rally some of the Moro people to continue the war against the government.

"For all his faults, Misuari is still an important leader who can contribute a lot to the peace process and in the development in Mindanao.

But he is also a key figure that can mobilize Moro people both ways - for peace and rebellion," he said.

"Maybe he was not handled well," he said.

Capalla said Misuari should have been given an important role, at least in the conduct of the peace process rather than alienating him.

Capalla said it is important for the government to talk to Misuari with the help of people from the OIC which brokered the 1996 peace pact.

Capalla also cautioned the government against pursuing rebellion charges against Misuari because such move may only complicate and aggravate the situation. "That will only alienate him… It will lead him to organize another rebellious group. I have the feeling that there are many Moro who are unhappy with what happened to Misuari," he said.

Capalla also expressed concern over suggestions by some government officials to file rebellion charges against MNLF members who clashed with government forces in the Cabatangan Complex in Zamboanga City because in the first place it is not clear who provoked that incident.

Capalla added that without a clear leader in Cabatangan, "I don't think we can say that was a formal act of rebellion." He said information reaching him indicated that the MNLF forces assigned in Cabatangan were actually hired earlier by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as part of their security force.
"So, how could security guards launch a rebellion against the government without a leader and if their leader is arrested in Malaysia?" Capalla asked.

Capalla also said the failure in developing the ARMM cannot be blamed on Misuari alone. He said people around Misuari and Malacañang should also claim responsibility for the failure in bringing development to the ARMM.

Capalla said developing the ARMM is not Misuari's work alone. "The development of that region requires close coordination between the ARMM and the national government," he said.

— Jowel F. Canuday / MindaNews