Wanted MILF leader Kato gets ‘promotion’

A Moro rebel leader wanted for masterminding the attack on civilian communities in Central Mindanao last year has been “promoted" within the secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Ameril Umbra Kato had been recalled as commander of the MILF’s 105th Base Command to head a “political position" within the Central Committee, said Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF panel that is talking peace with the government. “He [Kato] was transferred from military assignment to a political assignment but the exact assignment is not yet finalized. He will go up. He will be posted at the Central Committee but not necessarily a member of the Central Committee," said Iqbal. Kato, a radical preacher who studied Islamic theology in Saudi Arabia in early ‘80s, was replaced by Zacaria Ghuma, known in the MILF as a moderate, religious Muslim. Ghuma’s advocacy, according to MILF political affairs Chief Ghadzali Jaafar, is geared toward peaceful settlement of security problems in Moro communities. Iqbal said the decision to transfer Kato was made by the MILF’s Central Committee headed by MILF chairman Al Haj Murad. “Its already effective as early as two months ago," he said. “At the rank level, it could be. It’s a promotion," he added. Kato has been the subject of a warrant of arrest for leading the attacks on 15 North Cotabato villages in August last year, resulting to several civilian fatalities. The government has offered a P10-million bounty for his neutralization. Iqbal defended Kato, saying no investigation has been conducted yet by the international team monitoring the peace talks to show Kato’s involvement in the attacks. “The investigation has yet to start," he said. Newly appointed MILF spokesman Von Al-Haq said Kato was promoted because “he has progressed a lot" from being a unit commander. “That (promotion) is normal for any organization like the MILF. There is no permanent job, you can be reassigned if needed. It’s just a matter of transferring one to another position to make effective certain assignments," Al-Haq said. - with Malu Cadelina Manar/KBK, GMANews.TV