By Argyll Geducos
President Duterte said that Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Murad Ebrahim supports the transfer of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as the agency’s head.
MILF Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim
(FILE PHOTO / JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
As head of MinDA, Piñol is not going to supervise the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) but will just help fine-tune it and move it faster, Duterte explained.
“We're trying to fine-tune that is why... The truth of the matter is I really transferred Piñol to assist them,” he said.
“Hindi naman ito husbandry, nandiyan na 'yan. Wala akong point man doon na taga-roon pinanganak, doon lumaki, farmer, naging governor long-time (This is not husbandry, BARMM is there already. I have no point man who hailed from Mindanao, a farmer, and who became a long-time governor). I'm sure he (Piñol) can help BARMM and the government to move faster,” he added.
Duterte said his objective is to allow the Moro people to see that they will get the independence that they have longed for.
“I am most interested na makita na ng (for the) Moro people ang hinihingi nila (to get what they have been longing for). To move faster so that we can now realize the dream state that you have been asking for and fighting for,” he said.
Asked if Murad agreed with Piñol's new post, Duterte responded with a “Yes”.
Talks with Misuari
Meanwhile, Duterte said he is looking into talking to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) some time next week to find out the kind of government structure they want to have.
Duterte stressed this after it was reported that he met with MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari in Malacañang Tuesday.
“We also tentatively scheduled talks with the MNLF and government next week. So, mag-uusap kami kung anong klaseng structure ang gusto niya (we will talk about the kind of structure they want),” he said.
Duterte's meeting with Misuari this week was the third tthey had this year. The President had earlier said Misuari still plays a big role in attaining peace in Mindanao.