Duterte meets Nur Misuari in Malacañang for a 'short talk'

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) — President Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari had a short meeting Monday evening in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Tuesday.

Panelo said the 15-minute meeting saw Duterte "apologizing" to and "thanking" Misuari for his patience.

"What transpired last (Monday) night was that the President told the chairman that he admired his patience and he apologized for not having implemented or enforced whatever agreements they had previously with respect to federalism," Panelo told Malacanang reporters.

"They would be talking again, they did not have much time to talk so they will meet again," he added.

Panelo said Misuari did not raise concerns about the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), in the wake of reports some MNLF members were dissatisfied with the limited seats given to their group.

The Office of the President has yet to release the official list of BTA members.

"If the MNLF was complaining about it, the chairman (Misuari) did not mention it last (Monday) night," Panelo stressed. "I do not know the reasons why first there were the delay, but we will provide you with the complete list of the information as soon as we have it."

In a speech Monday, Duterte has ordered the police and the military not to arrest Misuari. Over the weekend, the Chief Executive had also appealed for the Moro leader's help in freeing three foreign hostages of the Abu Sayyaf.

READ: Duterte: Misuari will be remembered as a statesman

Misuari leaves for the United Arab Emirates and Morocco to attend summits of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers as well as the 14th Session of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Cooperation Member States. The Sandiganbayan allowed him to travel abroad.

Misuari is facing graft and malversation raps over the alleged anomalous purchase of P77 million worth of educational materials when he was governor of the then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.