Kato followers show video to prove he’s alive

COTABATO CITY—Followers of wanted Moro leader Ameril Umra Kato said their leader had resurfaced, pointing to a video shown by a network where Kato was seen as proof that the renegade rebel leader was still alive.

In the undated video, portion of which was shown to reporters on Thursday, Kato was seen speaking to members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao about reports that he was dead.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a rival group of Kato’s army, had said it could confirm reports that Kato, a former MILF guerrilla leader in Maguindanao, had indeed died from a stroke in November.

When pressed for evidence, MILF leaders appeared agitated and said that if no one believed them, they would not talk about the matter anymore.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF political affairs chairman, said the MILF information was very reliable and that Kato’s relatives had even offered prayers on the seventh day of his death.

Von Al Haq, MILF spokesman, also said the MILF tapped the help of local residents in search of Kato’s graveyard “to once and for all put the issue to rest.”

“We have experts who can identify our former comrade if we found his grave. If that happens, Kato’s men can no longer deny that he died,” Al Haq said.

The MILF did not issue any further statements after that but its claim got a boost when Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesman, said his followers had not seen Kato since late November.

Mama said members of BIFF were also barred from contacting Kato by phone.

“It’s not true that I died,” Kato had said in the video presented by his followers.

He said the rumors were started by people who wanted the BIFF demoralized but did not specify who they were.

Mama said the video proved that all claims about Kato’s death were false.

“He only took a break as advised by his physicians,” he said.

The MILF has refused to issue any statement over Kato’s supposed video.

Mama said Kato is now back at the helm of the BIFF, the group he founded after bolting the MILF over disagreements on the peace process.

Kato also resented his non-inclusion on the list of MILF leaders covered by immunity from arrest as participants in the peace process.—Jeoffrey Maitem