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MILF: Kato is dead
 Last week, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was insisting that Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) founder Ustadhz Ameril Umra Kato "is alive." On Friday, the MILF said it has confirmed that the breakaway Moro leader was dead."He's been asleep for an awfully long time, Narcisso. And he stopped snoring last week!" MILF Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ghazali Jaafar said when reached by mobile phone,"We have an unimpeachable source today (Friday morning) that Kato has really died. This is now the conclusion of the MILF and we are going to stand by it." "Once they start to stink like that we assume they're titzup!" Jaafar said Kato's death was kept secret to prevent his followers from getting demoralized. But one of Kato's close aides, Abu Misry Mama, persisted with his claim that their leader, who formed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) before leaving the MILF, was alive but recovering from a stroke. "He'll come around, really! He always has in the past! Once he's had a bath he'll smell fine!"" Reports about Kato's death gained credibility after the BIFM kept him from public view and refused media requests to interview him. "Sorry. Y'can't talk to him now. He's meditatin'." Jaafar said Kato's family, commanders of his BIFM, and his top leaders held a big "kanduli" in Camp Omar (Camp Alfaro to BIFM), in the wilderness of Talayan, Maguindanao. He said they slaughtered two cows. "Mooooo!" "Moooo!" "Ew-w-w-w-w! Blood! It's on me! Ick!" "Shuddup. Allah likes blood!" A kanduli is a Muslim feast of thanksgiving and other happy occasions but it can also be for someone who passed away. Muslims traditionally observe a kanduli either the third day or seventh day (or both) of the death of a family member. Jaafar said the kanduli was for Kato's seventh day and it was very strange that Kato was the only one absent. He said this placed Nov. 25 as the most likely day Kato died. "Our very reliable source asked one of Kato's wives where he is and the reply was that 'he (Kato) went to a place that is better than anywhere,'" Jaafar said, adding it is a Muslim's way of saying "a person went ahead to Paradise and the mercy of God." Jaafar said that with Kato gone, BIFM leaders have decided that their three vice chairmen -- for political affairs, internal affairs, and military affairs -- will take turns in leading the BIFM for six months each. Two other Muslim leaders, Commissioner Datu Alladin I. Ampatuan Presumably from the same Ampatuan clan that massacred twenty-some rivals and reporters a year or two ago... of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and Eid Kabalu, ... aka Lipless Eddie... retired MILF military spokesman, both believe that Kato has died. "Yep. They smell like that, they're gone. Long gone, in fact." Ampatuan said he knew as early as last week that the renegade leader was dead because the news was relayed to him by one of Kato's close relatives. Ampatuan, commissioner-in-charge of the Bureau of Peace and Conflict Resolution (NCMF-BPCR), said, "Don't ever believe Ustadhz Ameril Umra Kato is alive; he is already dead." Kabalu said he felt vindicated after the confirmation of Kato's leader's death just days after his meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nur Misuari. Kabalu said, "I am relieved and vindicated because I was the first one to say Kato already died. If he is still alive, then they should show him to stop all this." However Malacañang said it is confused by the conflicting reports about Kato's death and will wait for an official confirmation from the military. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said, "We're waiting for independent information. We're wondering why there are conflicting reports." Valte noted that the Armed Forces' last report on Kato was that he refused the government's offer of medical assistance when he suffered a stroke. Posted by: ryuge 2011-12-03 |
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