A campaign poster of former Marawi Mayor Omar Ali, who is again running for the same position (Photo by DIVINA M. SUSON / Inquirer Mindanao)
ILIGAN CITY—- Former Marawi City mayor Omar Ali, more known as Solitario, passed away on Friday.
Masiding Noor Yahya, a former colleague of Ali in the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), said in a post that the former rebel commander died on Friday, although he did not give details about the cause of his death.
Yahya described Ali as amir, meaning commander.
“Hearing the news of his passing away yesterday is a pain hard to bear. He is a friend, a brother, a father, perhaps, not only to me but also to many,” Yahya said in his eulogy to Ali posted online on Saturday.
“I can say with all honesty that Amir Mohammad Omar Solitario Ali is a good Muslim leader. He is indeed a faithful follower of Islam and his term as Marawi city mayor was a breakthrough. He had introduced a good system of moral governance,” Yahya added.
Ali was Marawi City mayor for two terms, from 2001 to 2007. He ran for Lanao del Sur provincial governor in 2007 but lost to Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr..
Even as he was no longer in power, Ali continued to serve in his private capacity, involving himself in peace building initiatives, among others.
In 2015, he was instrumental in gathering Moro revolutionaries in Lanao del Sur who belonged to both the MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, to discuss how they can help the Bangsamoro peace process.
“Lanao del Sur and Marawi City just lost one of its finest leaders,” said Maranao youth leader Khuzaimah Maranda.
“My heart amidst all the noise is pained with my adviser’s loss, the legend Solitario, my ama (father) in politics,” said women leader and senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc.
Omar Yasser Sema, deputy speaker of the interim Bangsamoro parliament, said Ali is one of the MNLF leaders “who have proven the democratic process works in our collective search for self-determination and genuine self governance.”