PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte shares his thoughts with the Royal Council of the Sulu Sultanate Special Envoy Datu Shahbandar Abduskur Tan and his party during a meeting on Wednesday in Matina, Davao City. MALACAÑANG PHOTO President Rodrigo Duterte talked about Federalism with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari when they met Wednesday night in Davao City.

This was confirmed by Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

Go also released photographs of the meeting online.

Mr. Duterte and Misuari appeared cordial in their first face-to-face at the Matina Enclaves. This was their first meeting since the President signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law in July.

“It was nothing new. They regularly meet,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during Thursday’s press briefing in Malacañang.

“I was not there. The only information I got was they talked about federalism,” Roque added.

Duterte and Misuari also reportedly expressed their mutual desire for a lasting peace in Mindanao.

Last month, the President expressed his desire to meet with Misuari and ask him to “walk the path of peace.” Duterte also stated that he could give Misuari “autonomy if that is what he wants pending the federal system implementation.”

Misuari served as governor of the ARMM after the MNLF struck a peace deal with the government of former President Fidel Ramos in 1996.