Misuari: ‘The Government Betrayed Us’

Those are very noble objectives, which you apparently thought would be achieved by the peace agreement. In hindsight, what went wrong?

The government betrayed us. That’s all. Because they have never unlearned their treacherous tendencies. We thought when they betrayed us during the time of Marcos that that was enough. Then they repeated it during the time of Aquino. Again and again and again. And I tell you this is probably the worst betrayal, under the regime of Arroyo.

Given all those betrayals, when will you ever learn?

We have always learned. It’s just that we are a very patient people.

Given what you consider a betrayal, what do you think was the government thinking in sidelining you?

I’m sorry to say this — and I’m not underestimating President Arroyo – but it seems to us that the lady has played into the machinations of this man called Norberto Gonzales. And I think she is not properly informed. Norberto Gonzales (leader of the Partido Demokrato-Sosyalista ng Pilipinas) is promoting the vested interest of his party, which is the unofficial party of the Jesuits. And they have succeeded in mesmerizing some of our MNLF leaders by offering them money and power. They have succeeded in turning these people into agents of the Catholic Church!

Do you think the government and the elite that controls it will ever give up their interests in Mindanao?

No. They are not crazy. They want to monopolize the resources in Mindanao.

Your critics say this is the end of Misuari…

Well, they have been predicting the end of Misuari 101 times. But every time, they see Misuari is still very much alive and kicking. I am more alive than ever before.

(This story first appeared in Newsbreak magazine, September 24, 2001)