DEAD? / MILF GETS REPORT ON KATO'S DEATH
[PHOTO - Former Moro
Islamic Liberation Front commander Ameril Ombra Kato]
COTABATO CITY, NOVEMBER 28,
2011 (STAR) By John Unson - – Text messages have been
circulating here since Friday night claiming that former Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) commander Ameril Ombra Kato is dead.
Local officials were among those who received the text messages that Kato
died in his lair at the boundary of Maguindanao's adjoining Guindulungan, Datu
Saudi and South Upi towns, after suffering from stroke.
The military said they are still verifying such reports. Abu Misri Mama,
spokesman for the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), meanwhile, denied
such claims.
"It's only the BIFM that can confirm if Kato is dead. Unless the group does
not confirm it, people will continue to speculate," said the commander of the
Army's 6th Infantry Division (ID), Major Gen. Rey Ardo.
Ardo also reiterated his offer of free medical services for Kato at the 6th
ID's Camp Siongco Hospital. "If he still alive and he wants free medication, he
can just send us an emissary and we can have him picked up by an Army medical
team," he said.
"Four days ago, (Kato) was walking around the camp when his vision darkened
and he collapsed," Mama told AFP.
"He regained consciousness three minutes later and told his followers they
should go back because he did not feel well."
Mama said that a vice commander had taken Kato to a doctor and he had not
been seen since then. The vice commander said he was merely suffering from
asthma.
But sources in the rebel group said that Kato could barely speak anymore and
was communicating through writing.
Mama said that if the rebel leader died, they would announce it publicly.
"There are some people that wants him dead," he said when asked by reporters
about the circulating text messages.
Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema said he received information that Kato
was bedridden and could no longer speak.
"But he was still alive and was being treated then according to my
informants," Sema said. "That was his condition then. I don't know of his
condition now."
Kato and his group began distancing themselves from the MILF after the main
organization opened peace talks with the government to negotiate an end to the
33-year Islamist insurgency.
He is believed to have as many as a 1,000 followers, rejected the talks and
accused his former comrades of abandoning the fight for an independent Muslim
homeland in Mindanao. – With Jaime Laude
MILF gets report on Kato's death By Alexis Romero
(The Philippine Star) Updated November 28, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)
MANILA, Philippines - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials
yesterday revealed receiving information that its renegade commander Ameril
Umbra Kato died Saturday evening.
A report by news website Interaksyon quoted MILF legal counsel Michael
Mastura as saying that Kato died on Saturday in Toril, Davao City.
The report said Matsura sent a text message saying that Kato had died under
the care of his first wife.
Von Al-haq, military spokesman for the MILF, confirmed receiving the reports
but clarified that these had not been verified.
"That is the information we received, that Kato died yesterday (Nov. 26)
night at around past 6 p.m.," he said in a text message.
"No one has verified this. Even the relatives have yet to verify (the
information)," he added.
Text messages about Kato's supposed death have been circulating around
Cotabato City since Friday.
But the information relayed by the text messages were different as they
claimed that Kato died in his lair at the boundary of Maguindanao's adjoining
Guindulungan, Datu Saudi and South Upi towns, after suffering from stroke.
Military officials said they are still validating the reports even as they
offered medical assistance to the former MILF commander.
On Saturday, the MILF, through its website confirmed Kato suffered a stroke
after his recent meeting with former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chief
Nur Misuari.
MILF said Kato is now bedridden and could hardly speak, despite efforts by
doctors to contain the paralyzing effects of the attack.
"An unimpeachable source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that Kato had
suffered so much stress after some of his commanders protested his meeting with
Misuari, who is largely considered as a government man," an article posted on
the website read.
Kato's spokesman Abu Misri Mama said the meeting with Misuari was cordial.
"They did not talk of anything very serious. It was just like a typical visit
of a brother Muslim to a brother Muslim," Mama said.
Mama, however, disputed reports that Kato collapsed while traveling with his
men in the jungle somewhere in Maguindanao last week.
He said Kato fell unconscious for about two minutes while taking a break from
a long hike.
Mama said Kato later regained consciousness and recovered.
Other sources, on the other hand, revealed Kato suffered a stroke five days
before. He was reportedly being accompanied by his first wife and died while on
board a vehicle that was to bring him to a hospital in Davao City.
"Maybe the leadership core of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM)
decided to bring him to Davao City for medication to avoid detection because
there are 82 warrants for his arrest," a local official said.
A relative said Kato was to be brought to the Davao Doctors' Hospital where
he was to be confined as either Aliman Samsodin or Salik Mantato to hide his
real identity. – With John Unson, AP
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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