COTABATO CITY – Military and police authorities in Maguindanao said they were still trying to verify the reported death of Ameril Umra Kato, leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM).
Even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Kato’s former group, said it received report about the 65-year old Saudi-trained cleric’s death from a stroke but it has not been verified.
Abu Misri, spokesman for the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIFF), the BIFM’s armed wing, laughed off the reports.
Misri said Kato had indeed collapsed while on his way to a BIFF camp in Maguindanao but that was brought about by asthma.
“He is well,” Misri said.
Major General Rey Ardo, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said reports about Kato’s death has been circulating since Friday afternoon.
“He allegedly suffered stroke and eventually died in his camp,” Ardo said.
Chief Superintendent Felicissimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (Dipo) in Western Mindanao, said there have been efforts to confirm the report.
“We are still checking the veracity of this report,” Khu told a local radio station.
Von Al Haq, MILF spokesman, said the reports about Kato’s death have persisted for three days now.
“We also received the same information and when we reached Kato’s close relatives, they said they have not seen the old man and could not confirm nor deny that he died,” Al Haq said.
He said based on the report they got, Kato had suffered a stroke and died a few days later due to lack of medicine.
But Misri said Kato did not suffer a stroke as reports have claimed.
“Some people are luckier because they knew that Ustadz Kato had already died. We in the camp had no idea,” Misri said in a jest although he would not say where Kato was.
Turning serious, Misri said it would make no difference if Kato had indeed died.
“There’s no problem with that because all people die anyway. Even if it was true he’s gone, there are three deputies who are ready to take his place and the struggle continues,” he said.
An Army intelligence officer, who requested anonymity, said it was normal for any rebel organization to keep secret the demise of its important leaders.
“Eventually, it will be made public. You can’t keep that secret for life,” the officer said.
When MILF founder Salamat Hashim died of a heart ailment in July 2003, the rebel group also made it secret.
It took the public over three weeks before learning the 61-year old rebel leader had died.
He was eventually replaced by Murad Ebrahim, who was the MILF’s military commander.