MILF searches for Kato’s grave

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front said Saturday its forces in Maguindanao have begun looking for the grave of Ameril Umra Kato, whose rumored death has been denied by his family and followers but the MILF insists is true.

Von Al Haq, spokesperson for the MILF, said the search for Kato’s grave was being conducted with the participation of residents near areas suspected to be the renegade Moro leader’s burial ground. Kato broke away from the MILF in December last year.

“We have experts, who can identify if the grave found is his,” Al Haq said without elaborating.

He said the MILF wanted to put to rest the controversy brought about Kato’s reported “death” by finding the grave.

“If that happens, Kato’s men can no longer deny their leader has died,” Al Haq said.

Abu Misri Mama, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, armed wing of Kato’s breakway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, admitted he has not seen Kato in a long time but maintained their founder and leader was alive.

Asked if he had spoken recently with the BIFM leader, Mama said they were told not to phone Kato if they had things to clarify. He said BIFF leaders closer to Kato had told him and other officials that they would be the ones to contact them when important matters have to be taken up.

“They told us they will be the ones who will call us,” he said.

In a text message to the Inquirer on Friday, Kato’s son Aliudeen said his father was  well.

“We know that this rumor that my father is dead is coming from out there, (referring to the MILF) but we are just ignoring it. What is important is that my father is still strong,” he said.

But he declined an Inquirer request to be allowed to take photos of his father.

The BIFF also continued to decline requests by reporters for an interview.

“Soon we will invite the media to come and see Kato,” Mama said. “He may not grant an interview but you will see for yourself that he is alive.”

Aliudeen said his father was very concerned about his security now.

Kato has 32 pending warrants for his arrest in the wake of a series of attacks in North Cotabato and Maguindanao in 2008 following the failure of the government to sign a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain that the Supreme Court had struck down as unconstitutional.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF political affairs chief, said they had no reason to doubt the report they got on Kato’s death.

“They just don’t want to confirm it to prevent their men from having low morale,” he said.

Jaafar said the naming of a caretaker leadership for the BIFM, the group that Kato founded after leaving e MILF, bolstered the claim of the MILF source.

Michael Mastura, MILF peace panel member, said Kato’s first wife made the report on Kato’s death. He said the first wife took care of the ailing Kato in Toril, Davao City.

Jaafar said that on Thursday, Kato’s family and BIFM top commanders held a big “kanduli,” a form of food offering held in times of bereavement or triumph among local Muslims,  in Camp Alfaro (formerly Camp Omar) in Maguindanao. Jaafar said the kanduli was held Thursday, supposedly the seventh day of Kato’s death.

“They slaughtered two cows,” Jaafar said.

Mama said Kato will face the media in due time to prove he is not dead.

He said they could not understand why the MILF was concocting stories about Kato’s  death and accused Jaafar of lying.

When informed that even Kato’s son was denying the MILF claim, Jaafar said: “We have evidence but there is no need for us to show it.”

Apparently irked, Jaafar added: “If you do not believe what we are saying, this will be the last interview we will grant on Kato.”