Misuari's arrest will lead to peaceful polls: Arroyo

Misuari's arrest will lead to peaceful polls: Arroyo

Agencies, Zamboanga, Philippines

Key polls in a Moro self-rule area in the troubled southern
Philippines should be peaceful after the arrest of renegade Moro
leader Nur Misuari, President Gloria Arroyo said on Sunday.

Arroyo urged some 1.3 million eligible voters to cast their
ballots on Monday to choose the new governor of the Autonomous
Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), with military officials
warning they would crush any attempt to disrupt the polls.

Philippine troops went on full alert on Sunday to repeal any
violence by followers of a rebellious MNLF chief detained in
Malaysia ahead of Monday's elections.

Misuari, wanted by the Philippines for allegedly spearheading
a revolt that left more than 100 people dead last week, and six
of his followers were arrested on Saturday off an island in
Malaysia's Sabah state.

Arroyo told AFP in Manila by telephone that while the
authorities were working closely to repatriate Misuari, she
preferred him to languish in a Malaysian jail.

"With Misuari gone, I think the return to normalcy would be
very rapid," Arroyo said, noting that his arrest would ease
security fears among ARMM voters and encourage them to vote.

Misuari was the ARMM governor until his suspension last week
following the attacks, and is expected to be charged with
rebellion on his return home, a penalty punishable by a maximum
20-year jail term.

Misuari reportedly staged the revolt after Arroyo backed a
rival faction in his Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) for
the ARMM governor's post. His rule has been marred by allegations
of massive corruption and misuse of funds.

A total of 145 candidates are vying for 26 posts at stake,
including 11 for governor.

While the foreign affairs and justice departments have been
instructed to "work closely with the Malaysian government" for
Misuari's repatriation to Manila, Arroyo said she personally
preferred that Misuari be kept in a Malaysian jail.

"We will let Malaysia investigate him first for the violation
of their own laws and charge him, dispose of him in accordance
with their own laws," Arroyo said while visiting Quiapo district
in Manila.

She said his arrest bolstered Malaysia and the Philippines'
"determination to work on terrorism around our common borders and
common seas".

Malaysia vowed on Sunday to send fugitive Misuari arrested in
Malaysian territorial waters back to his country, but the timing
and other details remained unclear.

In Kota Kinabalu, capital of Malaysia's northeastern state of
Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi indicated
Malaysia may not press illegal immigration charges, which could
speed deportation.

"It may not be necessary, because we are going to send him
back," Abdullah said.

"If he is kept in Malaysia, we will be accused of harboring
him or even meddling in the internal affairs of the Philippines,"
he said.

Manila's national security adviser, Roilo Golez, said the
government now considered Misuari a "terrorist" and that a probe
was underway to determine his possible role in a kidnapping spree
by Abu Sayyaf Moro rebels last year.

The Abu Sayyaf, a small group of self-styled Moro fighters
with alleged links to Osama bin Laden, last year raided two
Malaysian resorts and seized dozens of hostages who were later
released reportedly in exchange for huge ransoms.

Military spokesman Brig.Gen. Edilberto Adan said Misuari
forces in Jolo "provided sanctuary" to Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

Intelligence reports also indicated that speedboats used by
the Abu Sayyaf during the raid were provided by a top Misuari
aide, who along with other MNLF men allegedly received a share of
the ransom money.