MILF: Politician brought ailing Kato to Cebu hospital in July

MANILA, Philippines – Moro rebel leader Ameril Umbra Kato of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement was hospitalized in one of Cebu’s posh hospitals last month that was “facilitated and bankrolled” by a politician, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said.

“This was the report received by Luwaran from a reliable source in Cebu City and corroborated by a government official in Maguindanao,” said the statement that was posted on the official website of MILF at luwaran.com

The report added that Kato’s hospitalization was “facilitated and bankrolled” by a politician, whose identity has not been disclosed yet, the MILF said.

“We knew of Kato’s presence in Cebu one day after he arrived, but we kept the information close to our heart for humanitarian reasons,” it also said quoting the source.

These information came from “a reliable source in Cebu City and corroborated by a government official in Maguindanao.”

Kato, the leader of the MILF’s breakaway group, was reported to have suffered a heart attack last year and was even reported dead.

During the height of clashes in Maguindanao early this month, Kato’s group was reportedly reinforced by armed men from Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, and Matalam, North Cotabato, who are not members of the BIFM. There were also patches, not BIFF’s, recovered by government troops when they occupied the various positions of the BIFM/BIFF in Mount Firis few days ago, MILF said.

Meanwhile, the MILF also called on the leadership of the BIFM “to rethink their position especially launching military attacks in civilian-populated areas.”

“This will not give you any political gain; instead will further delegitimize your organization,” said Muhammad Ameen, head of the MILF Secretariat, in response to the short-lived BIFM/BIFF offensive in Maguindanao.