In August 11, 2005, the Mindanao Peaceweavers visited Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari in his prison cell in Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa Laguna. It was the group’s second attempt at seeking an audience with Chairman. The first one, in April, was turned down by the Philippine National Police. For this visit, the group had a four-point agenda: 1. Update on the Sulu Solidarity Mission 2. Status of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the role of OIC and other third party mediators 3. His views on the current political crisis and federalism and 4. the status of his case.
Remember Nur Misuari?
{mosimage}It was a cold and dark morning of August 11, 2005 when twelve (12) members of the Mindanao Peaceweavers started its way to Sta. Rosa, Laguna to meet the “Maas”. Tarhata “Tata” Maglangit woke up very early that morning to prepare herself for this long awaited visit. This was the first time she would be meeting the “Maas” in a jail and she doesn’t know what to do or expect. It has been four years since the “Maas” had been incarcerated and a lot of things had already happened to the Moro National Liberation Front where Tata has been a loyal member. Watching the gloomy sky, Tata said that the weather seems to be uncooperative with the Peaceweavers. Playing the usual optimist, I told her that the sun will come out soon.
My former MSU Professor Octavio Dinampo explained why his people call MNLF founder and Chairman Nur Misuari “Maas”. “Maas” probably means the same in both the Tausug and Cebuano languages, which is “old”. But it also connotes a title that befits a holder of wisdom, leadership and statesmanship qualities. People come to the “Maas” for advise,protection probably akin to the concept of “parens patriae” in political law.
It was our second trip to Manila. And second attempt to meet the “Maas”. The Mindanao Peaceweavers went to Manila last April to present the results of its Sulu Solidarity Mission to the AFP, key cabinet members and some members of the diplomatic community. Representing civil society in Mindanao, we were concerned over the latest spate of violence in Sulu and the virtual collapse of the 1996 Peace Agreement between the government and the MNLF following an outbreak of battle in Sulu last February.
We were frustrated then because we were not allowed by PNP General Antonio Lomibao to meet Misuari. The reason given was the visit could be a “threat to national security. After almost four months of persistent follow-up by fellow peaceweaver Atty. Sol Santos, the PNP finally allowed us certifying even in our permit that “all members of the group have no derogatory record”. “That was such a relief”, Fr. Angel Calvo of Zamboanga quipped, who was also a member of the peaceweaver mission.
Our three companions (Prof. Octavio Dinampo, Dr. Sammy Adju and Adzfar Usman) from Sulu brought with them native durians for the “Maas”. It was such a torture to smell the aroma of the durian without us actually partaking its incredible taste. The ready supply was for the Maas and sensing our salivating, we were promised our own share anytime we return to visit Sulu. We also brought several books, eggs, and vegetables for Misuari.
Nur Misuari’s prison is located at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa Laguna. His jail is a two-bedroom house which looks like a typical low-cost housing subdivision except that it is locked up with steel bars from the ceiling to the windows and doors. The house is also surrounded with inner and outer barbed wire fences. We learned that it was built for former President Erap Estrada when they needed a place to lock him up after “Edsa 2”. He was later transferred to the Veterans Memorial Hospital. In late 2001, Misuari “took over” the prison complex. I remember Misuari telling us that there have already been two Presidents that stayed in Sta. Rosa house. One was the ousted President of the Philippines Joseph Estrada and the second was the “President of the Mindanao Republic”- obviuously referring to himself.. We bantered that another President might follow him there.
The night before our visit, we outlined the points to take up with Misuari since our time was limited and knowing also his penchant for lecturing his visitors or audience. We had a four-point agenda in our notes. 1. Update on the Sulu Solidarity Mission 2. Status of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the role of OIC and other third party mediators 3. His views on the current political crisis and federalism and 4. the status of his case.
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