Kato collapse fuels reports renegade Moro leader’s dead

COTABATO CITY—Rogue Moro rebel leader Ameril Umra Kato, whose forces have threatened the peace efforts of the government, has fallen ill, a spokesperson for his group said on Saturday.

However, the 65-year-old is not dead despite a flurry of reports of his demise, said Abu Misri, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

“Four days ago, he was walking around the camp when his vision darkened and he collapsed,” Misri was quoted as saying.

“He regained consciousness three minutes later and told his followers they should go back because he did not feel well.”

Misri said a deputy had taken Kato to a doctor and he had not been seen since. The deputy said he was merely suffering from asthma.

But sources in the rebel group said Kato could barely speak anymore and was communicating through writing.

Misri said if the rebel leader died, they would announce it publicly.

The local Army commander, Maj. Gen. Rey Ardo, said he had also heard reports of Kato’s death or that he had suffered a stroke, but was trying to verify them.

Von al-Haq, spokesperson of the main Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said he had also heard the reports of Kato’s death but could not confirm them.

Kato and his group began distancing themselves from the MILF after the main organization opened peace talks with the government to negotiate an end to the 33-year separatist rebellion in Mindanao.

Kato, who is believed to have as many as 1,000 followers, rejected the talks and accused his former comrades of abandoning the fight for an independent Muslim homeland.

He was one of two hard-line MILF leaders who led large-scale attacks across Mindanao in August 2008 after the Supreme Court outlawed a draft peace deal that would have given the MILF control over vast areas. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao with Agence France-Presse