ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has vowed to pursue the criminal cases against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chair Nur Misuari and his followers, who were responsible for the 2013 siege.
Salazar issued the statement Thursday, November 2, as she remained adamant in her call for justice for the death of more than 200 persons and displaced more than 100,000 people due to the MNLF-led 2013 Zamboanga siege.
“As I have mentioned to President Duterte in several of our conversations, Misuari has to be accountable for his alleged crimes. Zamboanga City shall continue to pursue our cases in court against him and the MNLF members responsible for the siege,” Salazar declared.
The statement of the mayor came in the light of the meeting on Thursday between President Rodrigo Duterte and Misuari in Malacañang to discuss the government’s peace road map.
Salazar said Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza called her morning on the same day to inform that he just landed at the Zamboanga City International Airport for refueling en route to Jolo, Sulu, to fetch Misuari to meet with the President to discuss the government’s peace road map.
Misuari, according to Dureza, is a key player in the comprehensive and inclusive road peace that the Duterte administration is pursuing.
Salazar said that Dureza explained to her that Misuari’s release is temporary and subject to several conditions imposed by the court, hearing the cases against him as the aftermath of the Zamboanga incident in 2013.
She said the cases have not been dismissed but the hearings are temporarily suspended including the pending warrants of arrest against Misuari.
Misuari, who appeared on national television Thursday afternoon, pledged to support the Duterte administration in seeking long and lasting peace in Mindanao. (Sunnex)
