President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday defended his decision to embrace Moro National Liberation Front Chairman Nur Misuari, saying that he doesn’t want infighting to prevail.
“What is wrong with talking with Misuari and embracing him? I’m a Moro. And I want to talk to him because I said we have been fighting for more than 40 years already,” Duterte said before members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines at Manila Hotel.
“Do you want another 40 years?” He asked.
Duterte said that if he fails to resolve the peace situation in the country, there won’t be any chance of resolving it ever again.
“If you do not work for a federal system, the communists will return to infighting and Nur would return to the mountains. We cannot resolve it anymore because of mindless violence,” he said.
On Thursday, the President openheartedly welcomed Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari into the Malacanang Palace after his motion to suspend proceedings against him and to stop the enforcement of warrants of arrest were granted by a Pasig Court, changing his status from fugitive to a guest at the Palace.