Ameril Umra Kato dead—Muslim leader

Ameril Umbra Kato, seated, the commander of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the breakaway faction of the largest Filipino Muslim rebel group, is interviewed by the media inside his rebel stronghold in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines. AP/Nickee Butlangan

MANILA, Philippines – Ameril Umbra Kato, the leader of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, succumbed to a stroke Saturday morning, according to a Muslim leader in Manila.

Nash Pangadapun, the Manila-based secretary general of the Maradeka Bangsamoro Peoples Allliance, said Kato’s death was relayed to him by his contacts in Maguindanao.

“He had a stroke yesterday [Friday] and was bed-ridden.  Naputukan daw sa ulo [A blood vessel in his head burst].  His officers wanted to bring him to the hospital and wanted to negotiate a safe passage for him for humanitarian reasons.  But the information I got is that he refused and he died this morning,” Pangadapun told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone.

He said Kato died at the BIFF’s base in Camp Omar, situated in the boundary of Maguindanao’s Guindulungan, Datu Saudi and Datu Unsay towns.

Pangadapun called on the military and civilian authorities to independently confirm the information.

“With his death, it is expected that those who joined him in leaving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will return to the fold and rejoin the peace process,” he said.

Originally posted: 10:27 am | Saturday, November 26th, 2011