By Genalyn Kabiling

The government does not consider Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chair Nur Misuari a threat to the planned creation of the new Bangsamoro autonomous region, Malacañang said Thursday.

As initial plebiscite votes indicated the popular support for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Duterte actually recognizes Misuari’s potential contribution to help bring peace and spur development in the region.

“Not really a threat. He (President Duterte) considers Nur Misuari as someone, with his group, can help in the end of the conflict in Mindanao. We must remember Misuari is until now perceived to be the leader of Muslims,” Panelo said during a Palace news conference.

He noted that the President is expected to hold talks with Misuari, who has reportedly preferred federalism over the Bangsamoro initiative.

Panelo said his recent conversation with Misuari, the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor raised several suggestions on the peace process in Mindanao.

“I also talked to him and he said ‘There are many ideas that I can contribute for the peace, prosperity, and progress of Mindanao that’s why I like to talk with the President’. And I relayed that to the President and so the President is wanting or open to talking to him with respect to whatever suggestions he has in mind,” Panelo said.

The law creating the Bangsamoro region to replace the ARMM was part of the government’s peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the breakaway faction of the MNLF. The MILF is expected to lead an interim government called the Bangsamoro Transition Authority during a three-year transition period.

Panelo, meantime, said the government respects the “No” vote registered by the residents of Sulu on the ratification of the Bangsamoro initiative.

“The President will respect the sovereign will of the particular electorate. But, winning does not mean that they will go against the law,” he said.

The President earlier said he was very happy with the results of the first plebiscite showing popular support for the establishment of the Bangsamoro region. Duterte, who campaigned for the “yes” votes for the BOL, said the nation was step closer to a peaceful Mindanao.