August 4, 2000, The Philippine Star, Misuari willing to step down as ARMM governor, by John Unson, 

Former Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari said yesterday he is ready to vacate his post as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) if Congress does not extend his term, which expires on Sept. 30, and President Estrada appoints an acting governor.

"I did not ask for this position anyway. Some people in the government bent their knees before me and asked me to run for ARMM governor," Misuari told reporters while in Sulu, inspecting bridges built by his administration.

"I have already directed my subordinates to turn over their offices and departments to whoever will take over if the national government will not extend my term."

But even if his term is extended, he said he would not be able to accomplish much without funding and technical support from the national government.

"It could be another recipe for the failure of the peace agreement," Misuari said, referring to the Sept. 2, 1996 peace pact between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which he chairs.

Misuari is under fire for criticizing the government before a forum of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), an influential group of Islamic states, late last June in Kuala Lumpur.

He claimed that the Estrada administration was being slow in implementing the peace deal, which the MNLF signed with the Ramos administration in 1996.

He also said that he was not getting the needed funding from the government. Malacañang denied the claim, saying it released over P16 billion.

The OIC oversees the implementation of the peace pact, which it helped broker.

Some lawmakers, incensed by Misuari's badmouthing, are bent on ending his term this September and want to audit the ARMM's books to see what he did with state funds.

Misuari's term as the ARMM's third governor started on Oct. 1, 1996, and was supposed to have ended last September.

He was allowed to stay in a hold-over capacity until Congress sets before Sept. 30 this year the date of the next regional elections and a plebiscite that would expand the ARMM, both to be held next year.

Congress, however, has yet to pass the bill setting the ARMM polls and plebiscite.

But Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, Misuari's legal adviser, said the government is likely to extend Misuari's term for eight more months in keeping with its obligation to implement the 1996 peace pact.

Under the historic accord, the inhabitants of 10 cities and 14 provinces in Mindanao will decide in a plebiscite if they want to be included in the ARMM.

Two known political figures in Maguindanao are eyeing Misuari's post, South Upi Mayor Datu Michael Sinsuat and ARMM Vice Governor Datu Guimid Matalam.

Sinsuat, also the executive vice president of external affairs of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, was endorsed by the ARMM league of mayors.

He claims to enjoy the support of presidential son, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada.

Matalam, on the other hand, claims to have the backing of influential ARMM leaders and representatives of the region's Muslim royalty.

"Some of them may not be politicians, but they wield clout and influence in different areas in the region," Matalam said.

"My foremost objective if I become the officer in charge of the ARMM is to unite the fragmented Muslim leaders in the region's four scattered provinces," he added.

Dilangalen, who helped draft the peace accord as an MNLF panel member, is confident the OIC will endorse Misuari.