Misuari mulls another crack at Sulu gubernatorial race

Nur Misuari, former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), is planning to run again next year as governor of Sulu province, one of the five provinces under ARMM, and has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct a special voter’s registration there. “People are pressuring me to run for Sulu governor just to stabilize the situation there," Misuari told reporters Monday after meeting with Comelec Commissioners Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle regarding his request for a special voter’s registration in Sulu. He however said he would only pursue his candidacy “if needed," or if the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) falls apart. Misuari, founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF ) that inked a peace deal with the government in 1996, ran for Sulu governor in 2007 but lost to then reelectionist Abdusakur Tan. Encounters The former ARMM governor said about 20,000 to 25,000 Sulu residents were not able to register last month due to “a series of province-wide armed and uncontrolled encounters" between the military and “rogue" members of MILF. More than 280,000 voters were registered in Sulu for the 2007 elections. He said the series of encounters stemmed from a military operation in Indanan town last September 20. “Under these prevailing extraordinary conditions, a considerable number of new registrants were prevented and deprived of fair opportunity to be part of the Sulu electorate," he said. Misuari asked the Comelec for a two- to three-day special registration to accommodate these prospective new voters. “Kung puwede tatlo, tatlo, kung puwede dalawa, dalawa (If we can get three days, let's have three days. If we can get two days, then let's have two). If two or three will not suffice, maybe they can add (one more day)," he said. The Comelec had earlier declared that there would be no more extension of registration in any part of the country. Rocky stint in ARMM Misuari’s stint as ARMM governor from 1996 to 2001 had been marred with controversies, with the so-called Council of 15 of the MNLF accusing him of being incompetent as governor of ARMM. In November 2001, on the eve of ARMM elections, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement. He then launched a new rebellion in Sulu and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. He subsequently escaped by boat to Malaysia but was arrested there and deported to the Philippines where he was charged with rebellion and is now out on bail. - GMANews.TV