Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Professor Nur Misuari’s forces in Mindanao under the Regional Unified National Command (RUNC) Wednesday expressed strong opposition to the holding of the May 2010 presidential elections.

RUNC Commander Shailani T. Magandia, in an exclusive interview with the Manila Bulletin, said they will declare a “jihad” (holy struggle) if the 2010 local and national elections will push through.

Magandia, who has a lieutenant colonel rank in the MNLF, claimed RUNC has about 10,000 men, many of them armed, and 2,000 of them attended a meeting he convened on Tuesday morning at Camp Nur Misuari, Delabaken Training Center, Dulay, Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.

“Many MNLF commanders who delivered messages during the meeting expressed strong opposition to the conduct of the 2010 elections. They warned they will declare a ‘jihad’ if the elections are held,” Magandia said.

Among those who attended the meeting include: MNLF men from Lanao del Norte led by Division Commander Cosain Sabdullah; Pangelamen Sarip, deputy division commander; Unit Commander Abdul Panganting; Basher Dalangon, brigade commander from Midzalip, Zamboanga Peninsula; and Jamel Campong, division commander from Bukidnon.

Magandia hastened to add that Misuari was informed of the meeting, but the MNLF founding leader was not told of the agenda.

“We are opposing the 2010 elections because once it is held, the final peace agreement between the government and the MNLF will not be implemented. We will declare a ‘jihad’ if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) conduct the elections,” said Magandia.

He said resolutions coming out of the October 13 meeting about opposition to the 2010 elections will be sent to President Arroyo, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo, and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanuglo, among others.

On October 4, Magandia said they staged a rally in Marawi City’s plaza to condemn the government’s air bombing in Indanan, Sulu, during the celebration of Eid’l Fitr, the end of Ramadan.