MANILA - Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Nur Misuari had been allowed to fly to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco Tuesday night, hours after attending a conditional arraignment before the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division.

Misuari, who was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, was arraigned by the anti-graft court upon his request because of apparent changes in his flight schedule, according to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the 3rd Division.

Misuari did not enter a plea, prompting 3rd Division chairperson and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to enter a not guilty plea for him.

• Misuari seeks court nod for conferences abroad, state says his attendance 'not indispensable'

Misuari also paid a P920,000 travel bond after his arraignment.

In the resolution of the court granting Misuari's travel motion, the court noted that he has to be conditionally arraigned before he can leave the country for meetings with officials of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation from February 26 to March 20.

“The court is however not oblivious to the fact that the accused-movant has an important role in the peace efforts in Mindanao, being the chairman and founding leader of the Moro National Liberation Front and that his presence in the cited sessions both in Abu Dhabi and Morocco may have some national significance in the efforts,” the court said in the resolution penned by Associate Justice Bernelito Fernandez, with the concurrence of Presiding Justice Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero.