A LOWER court in Pasig has suspended the arrest warrant of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari's for six months to pave way for the peace negotiations being held between the government and the different separatist groups in the country.
The Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 158 in its decision dated October 27 granted the motion filed by Misuari as supported by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to defer his arrest and the court's proceedings on the case filed against him for rebellion and violation of the International Humanitarian Law last September 2013.
"Wherefore, premises considered, the motion to suspend proceedings and enforcement of warrants of arrest against Misuari filed by Misuari, the prosecution and as supported by the OPAPP is hereby granted," Pasig RTC judge Maria Rowena San Pedro stated in the 8-page resolution.
The warrant against the MNLF leader was issued after the DOJ filed rebellion charges against him, MNLF commander Habier Malik and 60 other for their alleged involvement in the 20-day Zamboanga siege that led to the death of over 200 people.
The Pasig RTC has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other law enforcement agencies not to enforce its mandate to arrest Misuari.
It has also directed OPAPP and the DOJ to strictly comply with the court's conditions regarding Misuari's participation on the peace talks.
The suspension, according to the court, will only last for a period of six months. (Sunnex)
