Drilon to Iqbal: Reveal true identity to remove doubts about MILF

SENATE President  Franklin Drilon  joined calls on Monday  for the chief peace negotiator  of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Mohagher Iqbal to reveal his true identity, although he said the use of an alias is not illegal.

Drilon, a former Justice secretary, said that the issue on Iqbal’s  identity would not in any way affect the peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

“The use of a nom de guerre by Iqbal in signing the peace agreement does not constitute any legal violation, for both parties involved fully recognized Iqbal as the MILF’s chief negotiator in the peace process,” he said in a statement.

“What is important is that the MILF will honor and fulfill its obligations under the peace agreement,” the  Senate leader added.

Drilon added that the use of an alias will not invalidate any document that Iqbal has signed in his official capacity as an official representative of his organization.

He pointed out that in the Senate itself, several senators have also signed official documents, committee reports and bills using nicknames.  Among them are Senators Jinggoy Estrada, whose real name is Jose Pimentel Ejercito, and Ramon Revilla Jr., who was born with the name of  Jose Marie Mortel Bautista.

Still, the Senate leader urged Iqbal to reveal his real name in order to help address misconceptions about the MILF’s commitment to the peace process.

Drilon said Iqbal’s disclosure of his true  identity could be an “important confidence-building measure that can alleviate doubts on the organization’s sincerity and commitment towards peace.” AC