Arroyo sends special envoy to Malaysia

Arroyo sends special envoy to Malaysia

PHILIPPINES: President Gloria Arroyo has dispatched a special envoy to Malaysia to arrange the handover of renegade Filipino Moro leader Nur Misuari to Manila, officials said on Friday.

It is believed Misuari would be repatriated here around Christmas.

The 60-year-old former separatist guerrilla leader was arrested in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah three weeks ago for illegal entry.

He fled there after Filipino troops crushed an armed rebellion by his followers in the southern Philippines island of Jolo.

Arroyo said she was sending her adviser, Norberto Gonzales, to convey to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Manila's preference that Misuari's "cases" first be investigated by Kuala Lumpur. --AFP