Iqbal’s real name known to Palace
One of many aliases
Iqbal admitted to using an alias, including the name by which he is popularly known, before a hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, when he was confronted with allegations that he was, in fact, a Malaysian citizen.
He is known to have used his alias to sign the government’s peace agreement with the MILF, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, in March last year.
Iqbal is also known to have used the name “Salah Jubair,” in publishing the books, “The Long Road to Peace: Inside the GRP-MILF Peace Process” and “Bangsamoro: A nation under endless tyranny.”
Some senators, led by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, said they were bothered by the rebel’s use of an alias in signing documents pertaining to the peace agreement. Marcos, who chairs the hearings on the draft Bangsamoro basic law, said he would pursue the issue when discussions on the bill resume next week.
READ: Iqbal alias, MILF ‘deception’ may affect peace pact—Marcos
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Iqbal puts entire peace process in ’jeopardy’ – Marcos
Article continues after this advertisementDe Lima believes that rebels should be allowed the courtesy of continuing to use their pseudonyms, or war names, when they are involved in peace negotiations, otherwise no peace process could proceed, she said.
“We have to understand that in revolutionary organizations, I think it is common practice among these rebel leaders to use a nom de guerre, and when there are peace negotiations and they need to surface to participate,” she said.
No threat to peace accord
Nor is the justice secretary unduly worried that Iqbal’s signing the peace agreement using an alias could invalidate the document.
“I don’t think it will affect the authenticity or the very legality of the document just because it is signed under a nom de guerre or an alias, because he already admitted that it is his alias. He can no longer deny such representation under the estoppel doctrine,” said De Lima.
De Lima said she would submit her formal position to the House on Monday. With reports from DJ Yap and Leila Salaverria
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