Iqbal is ‘Datucan Abas,’ says Cayetano

Is he Datucan Abas? INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“Datucan Abas” is the real name of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano claimed on Thursday.

“Ang tunay na pangalan po ay Datucan M. Abas,” (His real name is Datucan M. Abas) Cayetano said in two separate radio interviews.

“At ako ay nagtataka dahil ito naman ay tadtad sa ibang dokumento katulad ng DILG at OPAPP issuances way back 2003,” (I’m puzzled because it [name] appears in many documents like in DILG and OPAPP issuances way back in 2003) he said in an interview over DZRH.

DILG is Department of Interior and Local Government while OPPAP is Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.

Cayetano said the names “Datucan Abas” and “Mohagher Iqbal” both appeared in a DILG circular as among those given a safe conduct pass.

“May na-dimiss na kaso (si Iqbal). Ang problema hindi ako makakuha ng kopya dahil sineal yung kaso because of the peace talks,” (There was a dismissed case. The problem is I cannot get a copy of the case for it has been sealed because of the peace talks) the senator told  radio dzMM.

“Ang nilagay dun Datucan Abas, Mohagher Iqbal,” he said.

Cayetano said Iqbal’s name should have not become an issue if he admitted his real identity from the start.

The MILF chief peace negotiator himself disclosed that “Iqbal” was one of the many aliases he was using.

READ: Iqbal: Yes, I have many aliases