Kato displayed his insecurities on YouTube video - psychologist

MANILA, Philippines - The YouTube video showing wanted Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) hardliner Ameril Umbra Kato taunting the government has revealed the “insecurities" of the rogue rebel leader, a psychologist told the military recently. In a press statement Friday, Col. Daniel Lucero, the Army’s civil-military operations group head, called on the people of Mindanao to tip off authorities on Kato’s whereabouts. The Army has sought the opinion of psychologist Apple Raguine on Kato’s YouTube video, and her verdict – it was Kato’s display of defense mechanism. The video showed the mocking of Kato on the government for raising the bounty on his head to P10 million. “The video shows Kato’s defense mechanism through displacement aggression," Raguine said. “He wanted to express his insecurities for being restricted and being paranoid thinking that everybody wanted to get him due to the money placed on his arrest." She said Kato “as a fugitive wants to get the attention of the people not minding on disclosing his whereabouts." The Army traced Kato’s history as it recalled his previous action of occupying villages in North Cotabato that killed many civilians. The military said the rebels also burned the houses of villagers in the province. “Normally this kind of behavior is a result of a psychological problem that started during their childhood days. Their aggression once disrupted normally diverted to other things," Raguine added. At Malacañang Friday, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza shrugged off Kato’s rants, saying government forces would continue to hunt him and his men down to make them answer for the crimes they committed. Dureza said regardless of what Kato claimed, the government stands by the facts that the rouge commanders and their men were the ones who attacked, burned houses and killed innocent civilians. He said those acts are crimes against the people and for which they should face the bar of justice. He also urged the public not to take the law into their own hands as he dismissed the use of Ilaga vigilante or private armed groups to go after the rogue commanders. "There is no justification at all for any civilian group that is not authorized by law to conduct its own armed action," he said. Kato on a video that was uploaded on YouTube taunted the military and branded the government troops as terrorists. He also denied that they attacked innocent civilians. He claimed MILF rebels defended them against the military’s assault. Kato also denied he was wounded and laughed off the reward being offered by the government for his arrest. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, during the 107th anniversary of the Office of the Solicitor General Thursday night, reiterated that although the government would not sign the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA AD), it is committed to peace and development efforts in Mindanao. "It is in the interest of all Filipinos to end violence that's held part of the country back…we will pursue the peace process in Mindanao," she said. “Recent violence reminds us that peace is the only option for Mindanao." The President said that the shift to authentic dialogue and policy of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration would be the guide for all talks with armed groups. - GMANews.TV