Q: The Commission on Election is stepping up its preparation for the September 13 ARMM election which, as charged by the MNLF, is violative of the peace agreement. What is your final stand on this, Mr. Chairman, in case the election pushes through? What is going to be the alternative of the MNLF?

Misuari: Well, basically, as I have been saying all along, this is a blatant or gross violation of the peace agreement. Before I went to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the last hajj, I called up former Executive Secretary Alexander Aguirre, the chief negotiator of the GRP peace panel, and he confirmed the veracity of our allegation.

He said yes, that's why we worked for the extension of the election from March 7 to September so we'll have time to work out the mechanism for the indefinite postponement of the elections to comply with the peace agreement. Senator Pimentel has never denied that the Senator Roco Committee (of which he is a member) is committed to working out modalities for indefinite postponement. They proposed to us: "Just don't object openly, allow us to have this done and signed by the president, then we'll discuss it with you to align with the peace agreement."

In fact, just before the signing of the bill postponing the election to September, I was with him along with Executive Secretary Zamora and Congressman Amin of Sulu's 1st District. I raised this concern, and he acknowledged it. I emphasized that I don't want the government to abandon its obligation to implement the peace agreement.

Therefore, if elections push through in September, since it violates the peace agreement, it is not binding on us. It's that simple. If it's not binding, then holding it would be counterproductive—just like past referendums forced upon us, whose outcomes we repudiated.

However, four days ago, I met with the President at Malacañang Palace. We discussed this, and I believe he is considering compliance with the government's obligations.

Q: So the message from the President is that he's amenable to indefinitely resetting the election?

Misuari: They will work toward postponement. I don't know the exact details, but I stressed to him: "Mr. President, elections in ARMM should only happen after the provisional government ends." The provisional government follows the establishment of autonomous governance.

We need time to prepare, just as Filipino leaders were given 10-11 years under the American Commonwealth (1935-1946). We don't want to grope in the dark or repeat past mistakes. If we are sincere about autonomy as a solution, we must avoid premature elections or referendums.

Since the government failed to hold elections in October 1998 as agreed—preceded by a new autonomous act—there is no longer any binding agreement on referendums. The Tripoli Agreement never mentioned referendums; it was inserted unilaterally by the GRP panel afterward (Article III, No. 16). Retired Ambassador Pacifico Castro can verify this.

If they insist, the only option is a tripartite consensus—through formal discussions among the GRP, OIC, and MNLF peace panels. No unilateral amendments are valid. Imposition is unacceptable.

Q: If ARMM elections proceed on September 13, it would mean a 3-year delay in implementing the peace agreement. Are you willing to wait that long?

Misuari: I cannot give a categorical response yet. Islamic procedure requires consultation on major decisions. But if this happens, I cannot predict how our people will react. The situation may spiral out of control unless mechanisms are in place to prevent misunderstandings.

Q: Is there an official OIC position on the ARMM election?

Misuari: The OIC monitoring system has clearly stated that no elections or referendums should occur until the government fulfills its economic and financial obligations. The Indonesian Ambassador (OIC’s point man here) proposed this during the last Joint Monitoring Committee meeting at Manila Hotel, attended by Executive Secretary Zamora, National Security Adviser Aguirre, and other key cabinet members. This position has likely been relayed to OIC members.

Q: The government claims willingness to postpone indefinitely, but Congress hasn’t filed a bill to delay the election.

Misuari: Congressman Dilangalen recently visited me and mentioned plans to file such a bill. I welcomed this, as we must avoid further misunderstandings. We are at the tail end of the transitional period, and uncertainty is demoralizing our people. The government must clarify its direction—until then, no one knows what will happen.

Q: The MNLF Ulama group, led by Habib Zain Jali, issued a fatwa advising adherence to the 1996 Peace Agreement and non-participation in the September election. Your comment?

Misuari: The Ulama’s advice is influential and aligns with the peace agreement’s spirit. While I cannot decide unilaterally, their recommendation carries weight. The MNLF leadership will meet soon—with Ulama participation—to deliberate. I cannot preempt that decision, but I will not easily accept violations. Protecting the peace agreement’s integrity is paramount.

Q: There’s an upcoming Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) meeting. Will this be addressed?

Misuari: It’s the annual ICFM meeting, not a summit. [Remainder of response c

Q: Will you be reporting on the status of the peace agreement there, Mr. Chairman?

Misuari: Well, of course, definitely, the OIC monitoring system will report. It is my duty to report because that is the routine—every year we have to report to them on what happened during the 11 or 12 months before the meeting. They always want to be told, to be briefed.

In fact, I attended the 3-day meeting of the senior officers of the OIC after the end of the hajj. When I was preparing for my farewell tawaf, I was invited along with Dr. Abdurahman Amin, Ustadz Khabir Malik, Ustadz Abdulbaki Abubakar, the head of our foreign relations, and some other key members of the MNLF abroad to clarify some issues that have reached their attention.

I spoke before more than 50 ambassadors and some ministers who came because that is at the level of the senior officers only. The ministers will meet, so they sent their own ambassadors in Riyadh to meet along with some delegations coming from their home government. And I spoke before them. I told them exactly about the situation here because they are so concerned about the consequence of a mishandled election and of a mismanaged referendum.

They are very much aware about the referendum in the Cordilleras. They said what happened in the Cordilleras will also happen there. And if that is the case, then where do we go later on? How do we look at the future and the peace agreement because that means the peace agreement will be totally destroyed? The peace agreement is very precious to them.

So I told them, I promised before them that MNLF will never violate the peace agreement. In fact, we said we will continue to serve as the guardian of the peace and the peace agreement. And they were very happy to hear that from us. I am sure they would like to hear more. But at that time, the Joint Monitoring System of the OIC—I mean the OIC monitoring system—was not there, they were not represented. Even I knew about it only when I was already there.

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Q: While you were away on a pilgrimage to Makkah, some enemies of peace have concocted reports—maybe some from the media who do not want peace in Mindanao—alleging that some members of the MNLF are ganging up against you, but the MNLF leadership has already denied this. But I think it is better that the Chairman of the MNLF will clarify this matter.

Misuari: Well, of course, there is always this attempt to create clouds or doubts about us. That has always been the case ever since. But I am sure that they will not succeed because our people are wise. It’s not easy to destroy that which they have built for the last three decades or so.

Before I went to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—just four days before—I was in Jolo to celebrate March 18, that’s the 31st anniversary of the MNLF, and our people call that our Bangsamoro Freedom Day. Before that, I was in different places in Mindanao. I went as far as Bukidnon, Agusan, Surigao, Misamis Oriental, Davao Norte, Davao City, then I went to Matalam in North Cotabato. Afterwards, I went to Zamboanga for another celebration. From Zamboanga on the 17th, I left for Jolo; on the 18th, we celebrated the Bangsamoro Freedom Day.

Well, the people were solidified and they were very enthusiastic to continue with what they have planted over the years. Seeds of freedom are already there and are already sprouting somehow. But there are people who want to snap out this freedom by trying to destroy the chances of putting up the autonomy.

Well, they are entitled to their opinion, but we are also entitled to the right of self-defense. We have to defend our rights to continue with our struggle to enrich the freedom of the people of Mindanao. Those misguided elements are maybe being misled by their ignorance about this situation, or maybe it’s just that they want to sabotage everything there so that the people of Mindanao may not be able to realize the fruits of their struggle.

This is, I think, what they mean by that. But alhamdulillah, I thank Allah and thank our people for the solidarity they have demonstrated in defending the leadership of the MNLF.

I went out because I was assigned by the government to lead our people again, and I think for the third time around, we were able to have a very successful pilgrimage. In fact, everyone in the Kingdom was saying that this year’s pilgrimage was the most successful pilgrimage. It was hajj akbar, in fact. The reward is multiplied many times over because it is hajj akbar.

And I was the last one to lead because some people just abandoned them there. They were so enthusiastic to lead pilgrimage, but I’m afraid to say that when I went around the camps of the people—of our brothers, I mean to their quarters—several times, I didn’t see the senior officials of the OMA (Office on Muslim Affairs) there. I said, "Where is…?" We were asking because I wanted to see Exec. Dir. Tomawis. They said he just came here to make a contract about the housing and then he never returned.

Anyway, that is the problem. They went there and then they contracted, placed the Hajjis in a very far-distance place. And when I asked the Muassasa in the presence of Dr. Amin, I said, "Why are our pilgrims again very far, even farther than before? And there was no shuttle bus. Why like this?" He said, "I don’t know. In fact, if you just came to us, at half the price they asked, I could place them in better quarters and closer to Haram, to the Mosque."

And that goes to show—if you are not familiar, then you tend to charge the people very high because they are not familiar. You see, we are the most familiar there. I don’t think you can find people who are as familiar as we are. I have performed hajj for more than 20 times already. And I have performed Umrah maybe so many hundred times. You see, I’m very familiar with every nook and cranny of Saudi Arabia—not just the two places but every place in Saudi Arabia.

And I have so many good friends—the minister of hajj is an old friend of mine. You see, Dr. Mahmud Safar is an old friend of mine. And why do we rely on people who don’t even—they did not even care to join in the hajj?

And then, unfortunately, there were 85 people stranded there because of the manipulation of some people. So they were forced to stay behind. So when they called me up, just when we were about to leave the Kingdom, they told me, "Well, brother Nur, what are you going to do with us? You cannot leave us here alone. We have no money. We have nothing. We have exhausted all our resources, and we still have to travel to Madinah. We don’t have money. We cannot even buy water at the airport."

So I told Dr. Abdulrahman—with some medical people just the day before he left—to open our office there in Madinah because our medical people were the last ones to leave. You see, the medical team of the OMA left ahead. And they told me that there was no billeting for them in Madinah. I said, "What happened? You did not pay?" They said, "We paid everything. We are supposed to be entitled to hotel facilities, but we don’t have." I said, "Why?" And according to them, there was no money. The hotel was not paid.

So they asked me how could we help them. And of course, it was my duty. I said, "OK, don’t worry." So what I did was to instruct our brothers in Madinah. I told them, "Please open our office—I mean our facilities there—to them. Let them stay because there is no money. They can’t stay in the hotel. Provide all the comforts, the foods, etc., hire transportation facilities, and tell me exactly how much you are going to spend."

After they finished everything, then they came—the delegation came—to bring all the receipts, etc. So we paid them from the contingency fund that we brought. But they were delayed there. They said, "Now that we are fixed, we are going to the airport to leave." Then I told them, "Can I now leave? Is there anybody else who is going to be stranded?" They said, "We are the last. These are from South Cotabato, and Ustadz Amiril Bayan is their Sheikh. You ask him for the veracity of my report."

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Q: Another thing, sir. We understand… What is your reaction to this issue about flag-raising because this was published in the national daily, the Inquirer, in particular, that the Republic of the Philippines was represented by three flags—the MNLF, the GRP, as well as the MILF flag. Any reaction to this?

Misuari: No, it’s like this. These are very irresponsible charges. That only goes to show that these people really are ignorant, and they are incompetent. They don’t know what is happening there.

I was a guest of the Rabitah (Rabitatul Alam Al-Islamie / Muslim World League). I stayed with the brothers there. I brought some of them with me, and they were very kind enough to host us—just like these past two years because every time I perform hajj, I’m always a guest of the Rabitah, of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

So we were there. Now they said I raised a flag—which flag? How could I raise a flag at the Rabitah quarters? What for? Then I asked Ambassador Yusoph Kadatuan, I said, "What do you know about this flag-raising?" He said, "I was there… every day I was there in the quarters of our pilgrims. I didn’t see any single flag except for the Philippine flag."

Also, myself, I saw nothing except the Philippine flag. And in fact, when he was interviewed—because the report was brought there, because they were selling also the Philippine newspapers—well, he issued a statement. He said, "This is not true. This is all concoction of these people who have very bad intention. They must be asked to explain why they are doing that? They are trying to mislead the government. They want to create enmity between us and create suspicion between us and the government."

Now, if there are flags they raised by the MILF—well, they represent their own organization. If there are those… they are not raising a flag; they just use this to identify, just the Philippines. When our pilgrims go to Mona to all this, they have to raise their flag; otherwise, they will get lost—they will easily get lost. How many of our people got lost? We found them only after one day, after two days.

You have to have your own. Sometimes they used only this plastic mineral water like that just to show you performed hajj. You see, if you have not, you try to perform, and you find out. Everybody makes his own makeshift flag.

Now, this MILF maybe—but I have not seen them. MNLF perhaps—those coming from Jeddah, coming from Riyadh, coming from Madinah—they have to raise their flags to identify their team. You see, you have to have your identity. If not, you are like colorum.

Q: But there is no political significance on this matter…

Misuari: Nothing. This is religious. They should not put… You know, these are the works of evil-minded people. Why do you put politics into this sacred rite? There is no politics there.

There were some politicians who went to perform hajj, and they started attacking me. Masha-Allah. And then some people were just shaking… You don’t go to hajj and do politics there. People who don’t know what is hajj. If you go there, you never talk ill; otherwise, it is better don’t go there because it’s useless for you to perform hajj. You should always be positive.

You cannot even kill an insect during the hajj, during the wukuf. You cannot cut branches of trees. You have to pay one goat for that. You have to pay dam (penalty) for that—equivalent to 365 riyals, and that is multiplied by 10 or 11 pesos. I don’t like, of course, I don’t like to pay. Now, what more to talk ill of your brothers?

But anyway, I just pray to Allah. Allah will forgive them for their innocence.

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Q: We understand, sir, that the government of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is planning to donate some equipment and other…

Misuari: No. It’s not planning.

Q: It’s donating?

Misuari: They have already the letter from His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (Deputy Premier and Commander of Saudi Arabia’s National Guard and Caretaker of the Office of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques). He sent me a formal message telling me that equipment should be made available in Dammam.

These are equipment for education, for hospitals, medical facilities, and also heavy equipment—very sophisticated equipment for heavy construction, for like these and like that. And I met the Minister of Hajj. He said, "You go to Dammam. You evaluate what is the tonnage, and then I will call the leader of businesses here to put up the funding for the chartering of a boat."

So I tried my best. I talked to many of my friends there. He said, "It is impossible, brother Nur. Nobody is going to report to his office now because they were on vacation."

So when I left, I just sent words to our brothers there. I said, "When I leave, after my departure, just go and visit Dammam and find out if there are already heavy equipment concentrated there—that’s ours."

And then, fortunately, last Friday, I was with His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz—the Governor of Riyadh. I was sitting right in front of him during the reception—during the dinner—and we were discussing about this. And he said, "As soon as I go back there, rest assured, I will give instructions. I will find out everything, and I will send you communication, and maybe they will invite you to go and inspect."

You see, we have to inspect that because you cannot let those materials be exposed unnecessarily to inclement weather. It is very hot. You know, it’s going to be very hot. And there will be very delicate machines for dialysis. You see, for many things… he has very sophisticated things there. That is worth millions and millions of dollars.

So we have to take advantage of that. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz—his son was through to his right. That’s Prince Sultan. Did you take a picture of him?

Q: Yung mga facilities para sa medical, saan niyo ilalagay yun?

Misuari: That will be distributed to the hospitals in our area to upgrade the quality of our medical facilities—sa atin lang, sa ating areas—that is intended for… maybe not necessarily sa ARMM lahat, but in the SPCPD areas.

We have to improve. Now, on Wednesday, I’m going to meet Sec. Romualdez. We are going to discuss because of the Islamic Bank—the Development Bank has donated 16 million; we have not used it—that money because I want to clarify the procedure.

I’m going to talk to him. We will build as many clinics—not hospitals. Clinics only—good quality clinics, and then we make arrangement that they put the personnel there—the doctors—and then the medicine. We will put up good quality clinics.

And then I will also try to seek a meeting with the Secretary of Education—Bro. Andrew Gonzalez—if he is still around. Well, anyway, we will build also good-quality high school buildings—elementary and primary—with this money, for education… only for education and medical facilities.

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Q: There is going to be a resumption of the talks between the GRP and MILF on Thursday. Do you have any message for the panels of this ongoing talks, Mr. Chairman?

Misuari: Well, that is good news. Anything or everything that has to do with the strengthening of the foundation of peace in Mindanao is always welcome news to us. And I pray that they will be very flexible so that we can enlarge the dimension of peace in Mindanao because I believe that it’s about time that everyone will work for peace—will contribute his share in augmenting the peace that we have so far.

And I’ll be one among the happiest people in Mindanao if they can make a dent on the problem between them. So therefore, I will keep abreast of the development of… how the peace negotiation will unfold. But I will be very happy if Mindanao finally will be able to have genuine and durable peace because we have suffered too long and too much.

We want now stability so that our people can make up for their handicaps, for their disadvantages. We are supposed to be now the poorest; we are supposed to be the most illiterate; we are supposed to be the most depressed—all because of the consequences of the war that has been imposed on us.

So now, we don’t want anyone to impose any war on Mindanao anymore. In fact, I have reached a gentleman’s agreement with brother Ustadz Salamat that MNLF and MILF would now cooperate with each other to serve as the guardian of peace in our homeland—Mindanao and the islands.

So I told them, we will also try to get the PNP and the Armed Forces to recognize this and cooperate with us so that everyone will talk peace, not war. So we will try to exorcise the evil spirit of war—the specter of war—from Mindanao so that we could be one of the most peaceful areas in the world.

I think you want that to happen, don’t you?

Q: Is there going to be a next meeting very soon between you and the chairman of the MILF?

Misuari: Well, of course, even while I was still in Saudi Arabia, the MILF leaders were already sending words to me about the timing and what possible agenda. I said, "There will be no agenda here. We are just going to have another meeting between us."

Because before I left the camp—March 16—brother Salamat was telling me, "Brother Nur, I know you have not tasted the most delicious tilapia in the world." I said, "Why? I thought I have already taken enough all sorts of tilapias in the world."

He said, "You know, I have a very delicious tilapia here just at the back of my house. I am," sabi niya, "raising that tilapia. Now, I’m inviting you to have a tilapia lunch next time around. As soon as you get back to Mindanao, I would like you to visit me again."

I said, "OK, I will come. Who does not like to eat that delicious tilapia?" I think both of you, gentlemen, you also want to eat… take a taste of this tilapia.

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Q: Ano po ang status ng implementation ng ating mga infrastructure projects sa ARMM, particular po yung circumferential road natin sa Jolo, Sulu?

Misuari: Well, the circumferential road—there is some technical problem here. Because while our engineers belonging to the special task force have already submitted a program of work, yet it seems as if it was not quite satisfactory.

So when I met the president three days ago in Malacañang, he advised me to prepare a new program of work. And then he said, "Contact Sec. Vigilar (of the DPWH), talk to him about this, and then we will meet."

So today, after my arrival to Zamboanga—because I went to visit some islands, and also Basilan; I went to several places—and I met Sec. Vigilar today, this afternoon. We had a very lively discussion. I told him that the president has advised me to meet you and to collaborate with you on this circumferential road.

Well, he said, "We will do that." But his suggestion is this, gentlemen—with me was Engr. Suaib—his suggestion is to the effect that we should send a joint investigating team first to find out how much work has been done so far and then how much work still to be done, and how do we go about this so that we could tailor our request for the releases of funds.

Because Pres. Estrada has committed to us P1.62 billion for this one—for the two lanes first. Two lanes… another two lanes… another two lanes. Yes, it’s additional funds because most of the funds that have been released to us have been used for clearings.

So, I have in fact gone as far as Jakarta to talk to the Indonesian government about my desire to get low-price cement and asphalt and also probably even PVC for water tubes—18 inches—throughout the 163 kilometers.

Q: For drinking purposes?

Misuari: Because I want good-quality drinking water to be delivered to every household. I will tap the water from the top of the mountains—good-quality waters—

Q: Mineral water yun, sir…

Misuari: Of course, these are mineral water.

Q: Pure?

Misuari: Pure water. And you know, the water in Sulu is reputed to be among the best-quality waters in the world. And that’s why I want to deliver to the households of the people.

I think our Engr. here is now leaving tomorrow to meet with Dir. Sta. Elena, who has been deputized by Sec. Vigilar to work with him, go to the spot, and then report. Meanwhile, Sec. Vigilar is going to make arrangements for our meeting with the president to brief him about the line of actions we are taking.

So we are expecting that we can start moving again on the road. Although, for the meantime, I have been squeezing small money here for them so they pay the people whose coconut trees have been bulldozed by our workers.

Q: Hindi naman na-stop yung work doon sa site?

Misuari: No, they are continuing because I’m lending them small money here and there. Sometimes I even loaned to them some of our private money for the salary of our engineers and like that because I cannot afford to fail. Kung mag-failure ito, tapos na ang peace agreement… because wala na tayong mapakita.

There’s nothing that we could show. These are flagship projects of the ARMM. But I am determined to succeed, Insha’Allah. I’m very determined to succeed.

And you should go and see this one day. If you want to leave with them, I can facilitate your travel there. You can join them. This is very important. We are sending our media people there. When do you want these gentlemen to go?

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Q: Maybe last question na lang. Lately, mayroong kaunting controversy dito sa appointment sa SPDA administrator. Ano ba ang… nagkaroon ng patungan yung appointment ni Mr. Mindalano at saka si Atty. Adiong. Ano ba ang… kasi we believe the SPDA is the implementing agency of the SPCPD.

Misuari: Well, you are correct. In fact, it is very precise in the peace agreement that it should fall under our control and supervision. And therefore, to be able to control it, we must be able to control the people.

But you cannot control the Hon. Secretary Robert Aventajado—he’s a powerful man. Only the president can control him, can supervise him. In fact, as a flagship secretary, he should be the one who will supervise us, advise us from the top. Not we.

So it is really impossible to see him there holding a very low position as chairman of the board because he is going down below. I told him, of course he has a very noble intention—I appreciate that. I take cognizance of that.

He said, "Brother Nur, I really want to help you." Yes, I said, "Of course, welcome, ‘cause we want to succeed." It’s just that the procedure. Well, he has his own way. He will help us by doing the work for us.

I said, "You know the culture of a people. Unless you do it yourself, they can see your hands soiled like that, they will not attribute the work to you at all, isn’t it?"

I don’t know yung mga Maguindanao brothers. But in Sulu, they will never… They will laugh at you. Sabi nila, ‘Tingnan ninyo yan, they are claiming something that they did not do.’

So sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘kako mas mahusay yun, you help us from behind, push us forward because what we want to be seen as very visible and very conspicuous by our people.’

Because unless we are conspicuous, we are kept under the shadows, where some people are doing the work for us, then baka it will not be very useful at all. Especially now—how many days na lang, or how many weeks or how many months are left.

So unless the people would see us there doing the works ourselves, then baka hindi maganda ang result. Kailangan talaga nandoon tayo.

So I think Sec. Aventajado will consider this very strong point. I wish he will continue to support us and to collaborate with us. He has a very noble intention, and I’m very sure. But it’s just that it does not dovetail with our culture in the south.

To other people, they will be very happy—OK, he will do the work, his men will do the work, and then say… this we do it in the name of Misuari and the SPCPD or the ARMM.

But not in our case—people instead have a very negative attitude towards you. They will tell you, ‘Oh, useless ang mga tao, kundi si Sec. Aventajado, wala silang nagawa sana.’ Hindi ba? Nakakahiya iyan.

So I explained to him. I hope they will take this into consideration. And besides, the one reason why we are giving to this continuation of the service of Atty. Blo Adiong is because I saw the decision of the Civil Service. They said he has every right to continue with his work.

Yes, he’s a CESO. Although Sec. Aventajado has shown me a legal opinion—but I am a very simple layman—what I see is that Civil Service speaks very loudly because they have the final say. And the Civil Service says that he has to occupy the job because they have the final word on that, hindi ba?

So we have to abide by the decision of the Civil Service.

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Q: Maybe, sir, your last word sa ating mga kababayang nakikinig ngayon kasi ito ay io-on-the-air natin sa Cotabato City at sa ARMM area.

Misuari: Well, of course, I would just like to greet our people in Cotabato City and in every place in Mindanao and the islands—assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.

I would like to tell them that I have returned back to our homeland, and I have already visited Zamboanga, Basilan, Pilas, and intend to visit Cotabato—several places there—and also to prepare for the coming of the president to the island of Jolo.

I will visit the island because the last time I was supposed to visit Jolo on the 25th of February, but I requested postponement through the PMS secretary, and she was very kind enough—Sec. Lenny de Jesus was kind enough to advise the president.

The president agreed to that because at that time, the weather was very bad. And now, the head of our task force here will go and prepare for that—the visitation of the president—because Sec. Vigilar was mentioning about this: when the president comes, then we should be able to show something to him.

So I want the engineers to do their work. Even if they don’t have that, they can use their bolos to clear the passages for our visitors. You have to do that, and let everybody be useful there.

I am advising him. I said: "If you find lazy people, you kick them out from the service in the ARMM. We cannot tolerate lazy people…"