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Lacson warns vs 'surrender deal' of Abu Sayaff leader

Philippines | National

Lacson warns vs 'surrender deal' of Abu Sayaff leader

By Mario Casayuran

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, warned today that politics and terrorism might be a deadly mix as neither has logic or reason.

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Lacson was referring to the ‘’surrender deal’’ of Abu Sayyaf leader Abduljihad Susukan brokered by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding father, Nur Misuari.

"Huwag naman sana. Pag pinaghalo ang pulitika at terorismo, talo lahat tayo. (I hope that will not happen. We will all lose if you mix politics with terrorism.)

Why? Politics has no logic and terrorism has no reason," Lacson, who sponsored the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in the Senate, said in a post on his Twitter account.

"We had sent the right message to the world that we mean business against terrorism with tough legislation in the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. But we could be sending the wrong message if we allow politics into the mix, as in the case of Susukan," he added.

Lacson cited news reports that Susukan was at the center of a "surrender deal" reportedly brokered by Misuari. The Abu Sayyaf is a proscribed terrorist organization in the Philippines.

Police arrested Susukan at Misuari’s house Thursday night, days after Misuari - to whom Susukan reportedly "surrendered" as early as April — got past security forces in bringing Susukan to Davao City from Jolo.

Susukan, who was brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City for processing Saturday morning, is the subject of several warrants of arrest, reportedly for crimes including murder and kidnapping. Malaysians and Chinese were among the victims of his crimes.

Misuari is President Duterte’s special economic envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

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