MISUARI REGISTERS CANDIDACY FOR SULU GOVERNOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 000923 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2017 TAGS: PREL PINS KISL RP SUBJECT: MISUARI REGISTERS CANDIDACY FOR SULU GOVERNOR REF: A. MANILA 5018 ¶B. MANILA 3817 Classified By: CDA Paul W. Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Jailed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari personally registered his candidacy in Jolo on March 20 for the Sulu Gubernatorial election. Misuari, who has become increasingly desperate to gain his freedom, entered the race against well financed traditional leaders Benjamin Loong and Abdulsakur Tan, and faces an uphill battle, having lost his last campaign in ¶2004. Election-related violence is likely in Jolo, as each candidate has his own private army. End Summary. -------------- Misuari For Governor -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Makati Regional Trial Court allowed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari to travel to Jolo on March 20 to personally register his candidacy for the Sulu Gubernatorial election. Accompanying Misuari on his third trip to Mindanao since September 2006 (refs a and b) were his wife Tarhata, Ustadz Habi Haris, and GRP security officers. ¶3. (C) According to MNLF Commander Matanog "Diego" Mapandi, Misuari was encouraged to run for governor of Sulu by officials of the Arroyo Administration, as well as House Speaker Jose de Venecia. Without support from Malacanang, Mapandi said that it would be extremely difficult for Misuari to win the May 14 election against his well financed opponents -- incumbent Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong and former Sulu Governor Abdulsakur Tan. -------------- Freedom Wanted -------------- ¶4. (C) Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus "Jess" Dureza told CDA and poloff on March 20 that Misuari has been incarcerated for over six years, and is increasingly desperate to gain his freedom. Though some of Misuari's supporters were concerned about the potential damage to Misuari's credibility should he be defeated at the May 14 polls in his home province, Dureza noted that Misuari registered his candidacy in Jolo for the 2004 gubernatorial election, and lost, with no apparent effect on his stature. ¶5. (C) Dureza commented that the potential for violence was high on Jolo because all of the political candidates had private armies. With the ongoing deployment of GRP military forces on the island, Dureza expected an improved security situation during the election campaign. -------------- Comment: -------------- ¶6. Both Loong and Tan are formidable opponents of Misuari, with millions of pesos in their respective political war chests. It remains to be seen how supportive Malacanang will be to the gubernatorial campaign of Misuari who has yet to be tried for sedition. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ JONES