Kato rejects Army offer to have him hospitalized

COTABATO CITY—The military yesterday offered hospitalization for renegade Moro rebel leader Ameril Umra Kato after he collapsed last week while on the way to one of his hideouts but the wanted rebel leader quickly turned it down.

Maj. Gen. Rey Ardo, head of the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, said Kato had a mild stroke last week.

A spokesperson of Kato’s armed group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), said, however, that Kato collapsed but was not suffering from a heart disease. Kato, according to BIFF spokesperson Abu Misri, is suffering from asthma.

Misri said the 65-year-old Kato was on his way to Camp Alfaro, a BIFF camp that used to be under the control of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in the borders of Datu Piang, Datu Saudi and Guindolongan towns in Maguindanao when he collapsed.

Half of the MILF’s forces in Maguindanao joined Kato when he broke off ties with the separatist guerrilla group that is now negotiating a peace deal with the government.

Ardo said the military was offering hospitalization because while Kato, a Saudi-educated cleric, was a wanted man “and has numerous warrants, we will treat him humanely.”

Ardo said the offer was meant as a gesture to convince Kato that “the military is serious in fostering peace and development.”

The military is willing to send a team of medical workers to fetch Kato, Ardo said.

According to Misri, Kato and his followers were on the way to Camp Alfaro when “he suddenly stopped, sat down and complained of dizziness, then started catching his breath.”

“Now I’m OK,” Misri quoted Kato as saying. He said Kato decided against proceeding to Camp Alfaro and just return instead to his base in the marshlands of Maguindanao.

“He has no heart disease,” said Misri. “Just asthma.”

On the military’s offer to help Kato get treatment, Misri said: “The offer is welcome, but no thanks.” Nash Maulana, Edwin Fernandez and Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao