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Military expert is new MILF ceasefire chief


Secessionist Moro rebels have designated a veteran with a political-military background as the new head of its ceasefire committee. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Sunday said Said Sheik a.k.a. Abu Salman will now head its Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). "Sheik, unlike the previous ceasefire chiefs of the MILF, has a mixture of both military and political background. For years, he had worked in the Middle East where he actively worked for the MILF as a member of a Moro overseas workers’ organization. Upon his return to Mindanao, he formally joined the MILF and becomes one of its active members," the MILF said on its website. It said Sheik, who hails from Lanao del Norte, replaces Toks Ebrahim, who had been in the service since March 2008. Sheik started his one-year tour of duty July 1. His term will end July 1 next year. The MILF military staff seeks to provide accurate, timely information which by category represents information on which command decisions are based. Some members of the six-member CCCH were also replaced, the MILF said. Among those replaced were Ali Baba of Davao Oriental and Ahmad Lao of Lanao del Sur, who the MILF said were among the longest serving ceasefire workers from the MILF. The turnover ceremony took place in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao last July 22. Former MILF CCCH chairmen included Eid Kabalu, Tops Julhani (deceased), Benjie Midtimbang, Von Al-Haq, and Toks Ebrahim. All hailed from Cotabato, the group said. - KBK, GMANews.TV

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