President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to reconcile with members of the MNLF faction loyal to Nur Misuari, former Governor of Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Arroyo has expressed her faith in the MNLF leaders who have allied themselves with the government and who negotiated the release of 118 hostages by the MNLF-Misuari faction on Wednesday.

She added that the hand of reconciliation must be extended forever. She called the MNLF leaders "our partners in the peace process and in upholding the law". She noted that the administration MNLF candidates who are expected to win in the recently concluded ARMM elections can be expected to uphold a clean and efficient government.

Arroyo said Misuari has deserted his followers who became "desperadoes and renegades". She explained that they were misguided into challenging authority. The loss of the MNLF-Misuari faction was the "responsibility of no less than Nur Misuari who incited his men into this misadventure".

Arroyo cited these reasons for not allowing Misuari back to the Philippines, following reports that the Malaysian police had arrested him and six other companions on November 24 for illegal entry.
"I encourage them to take all the time they want in dealing with him, then whatever is left of him will be sent home to face our music. We will mete out justice as we consolidate the new government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," Arroyo noted.

Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying that Misuari would be deported to Manila at an appropriate time. He stressed that he would not be granted political asylum, and would not be allowed to leave Malaysia for political asylum even if there are countries that are willing to accept him.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the same thing earlier, although Malaysia gave Misuari a haven after he staged a separatist war that killed 120,000 people in southern Philippines in the early 1970s.

"We have tried to unite two opposing Muslim separatist groups to enter into a peace accord with the Philippine government to start a new era in that country. We do not want fighting to prolong," Najib also said, hinting that Misuari was a hindrance to the MILF-MNLF unification. MILF Chief Hashim Selamat left Misuari and created his own group in the late 1970s.

At the same time, Malaysian Police Inspector-General Norian Mai was quoted as saying that Misuari would be questioned on the Abu Sayyaf Group's abduction of 11 Malaysians from Sipadan and three other Malaysians from Pandanan island in April and September last year.

"Investigations are underway to determine the extent of Nur Misuari's links with the Abu Sayyaf Group," Mai said.

The Abu Sayyaf has been linked to the Al Qaida organisation of Saudi-born millionaire Osama bin Laden, the supposed mastermind of the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.

Misuari is being held responsible for the attack of the MNLF-Misuari faction on an army headquarters and several military and police stations, which killed 113 in Jolo on November 19. His followers also held hostage 113 people and used them as human shields after attacking the air force near Cabatangan Complex in Zamboanga City on November 27.

Malou Talosig adds: Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, Jose Brillantes, said he has been receiving warnings to be extra cautious as some renegade members of the MNLF or even the Abu Sayyaf have slipped into Malaysia and seeking revenge for Misuari's arrest.

Brillantes said he keeps on getting reminders that he might suffer the fate of Philippine Ambassador to Jakarta, Leonides Caday, who was bombed while entering the gate of his residence in Jakarta last year.

Former Indonesian president Abdurahman Wahid had said the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could be behind the attack. Malaysia authorities were reported as saying that they are not divulging Misuari's whereabouts for fear that his supporters will try to free him from prison.

Brillantes confirmed that there were conflicting reports on where Misuari is detained. He added that the latest data he had got came from recent newspaper reports which said Misuari is being detained in Kuala Lumpur.

No Philippine embassy official has ever seen Misuari since his arrest. "We spoke to his custodians and inquired how he is. The reply we got is that he is all right, mentally and physically," said Brillantes.

At the same time, Brillantes said he was confident that Malaysia will not turn over Misuari to any member country of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).