Kabalu wanted change for people

OZAMIZ CITY—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader sacked by the rebel group’s central committee, said his bid to become the interim head of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was aimed at helping advance the Bangsamoro people’s struggle for a better life.

“We have been struggling very hard to bring change to the lives of our people. I wanted to grab every opportunity to make this happen,” Eid Kabalu, the former chief of the MILF civil-military affairs, said.

Kabalu was sacked last week for seeking the post of OIC governor. He even solicited the help of non-ARMM politicians such as Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Piñol so he can be appointed.

The appointment of officers in charge for the regional government was part of the move to reset the August polls to May 2013 to prevent a leadership vacuum.

The MILF central committee said Kabalu ran against MILF’s stand on the ARMM, being a sham autonomy.

But Kabalu said the ARMM “could serve the real interest of the Moro people” if reforms were implemented.

He also clarified that he resigned as MILF civil-military officer before seeking the interim regional chief post.

Kabalu said the differences between his personal views and those of the MILF regarding the ARMM led him to tender a courtesy resignation from his posts.

In his letter to the MILF leadership, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, Kabalu admitted he lost the “moral authority and ascendancy” to continue holding the posts.

But he said he was not detaching himself from the MILF struggle.