MANILA - A Makati City court on Wednesday morning acquitted former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Nur Misuari of rebellion charges.

Lawyer Randolph Parcasio said his client was acquitted by Judge Winlove Sumaya of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 59.

The rebellion case was filed against Misuari after armed men allegedly under his command attacked in 2001 a military camp in Sulu to stop the elections for governor of the ARMM.

At least 100 people died in the attack.

Misuari's acquittal came a day after he filed a certificate of candidacy (CoC) for governor of Sulu province under the banner of Bangon Pilipinas party of evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva.

He said his decision to join next year's election "was brought about by my obsession to achieve peace in Mindanao."

Misuari earlier said that he might face incumbent Sulu governor Abdul Sakur Tan and Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison in the gubernatorial race. Sakur Tan is a first-term governor, while Arbison is a third-term congressman representing the province’s second district.

The former MNLF chairman also ran in 2007 for the same post, but lost to Sakur Tan and former Governor Benjamin Loong.