Alonto, Mindanao peace advocate, dies at 74

DAVAO CITY—Malacañang and Mindanaoans on Friday paid tribute to Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) chair secretary, Datu Hj. Abul Khayr Alonto, as they mourned the death of a beloved son of Mindanao.

The Palace recognized how Alonto “devoted his professional career in contributing to the socioeconomic transformation of Mindanao from a land of promise to a land of fulfillment.”

“The nation is grateful for his services and we are confident that his legacy would continue to inspire leaders, government workers, and people to advance the cause of peace and development in Mindanao,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, said.

“A life dedicated to advance the lives of all Mindanaoans, Secretary Alonto unselflessly and unrelentlessly fought for Mindanao until the end, a true warrior for development and advocate of peace,” MinDA said in a statement.

Alonto, 74, succumbed to pneumonia at around 10:40 p.m. on Thursday while recovering from an angioplasty procedure he underwent a week earlier at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City, according Alonto’s great grand-uncle Iman Lucman.

Alonto’s remains were flown to Lanao del Sur early on Friday. He was buried in Marawi City at 10 a.m. in accordance to Muslim tradition to bury the remains of the departed within 24 hours of his death.

“The Palace expresses its deep sympathies and condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and loved ones of the late Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto,” Panelo said.

First MinDA chair

Appointed in September 2016, Alonto was the first Muslim chair of the MinDa under the Duterte administration.

The Palace recognized how Alonto “devoted his professional career in contributing to the socioeconomic transformation of Mindanao from a land of promise to a land of fulfillment.”

“The nation is grateful for his services and we are confident that his legacy would continue to inspire leaders, government workers, and people to advance the cause of peace and development in Mindanao,” Panelo said.

He added: “We are going to miss his amiable and smiling presence. We pray Allah grant him eternal repose of his soul.”

The Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) said that Alonto has contributed to the vision of making Mindanao a place for unity, optimism, pride and contentment.

“MinDA through leadership of Secretary Alonto has been supportive of the investment projects in Mindanao, specifically in Davao City,” the DCIPC said in a statement.

Romeo Montegro, deputy executive director of MinDA, said Alonto “spent his life selflessly to advance the lives of all Mindanaoans,” describing him as “a true warrior for development and advocate of peace.”

“Mindanao lost a great visionary, leader and father. Secretary Alonto always envisioned that no one would need to leave their families behind just to find a living. We, in MinDA, will take inspiration from his wisdom and vision as we continue the pursuit for a progressive, peaceful and united Mindanao—in fulfillment of the Mindanao promise,” Montegro said.