Murad to face media on rumored death, Aquino-MILF meet

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said early Sunday that it will hold a press conference early September at its headquarters in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao, to clarify a number of issues. On its website, the MILF hinted the press conference will tackle issues related to the meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and top MILF officials in Japan last August 4. “The other reason for the news conference was to prove that [MILF Chairman Al Haj] Murad was alive and kicking after several reports appeared in the media that died of cardiac arrest," it added. But the MILF was not clear whether the press conference will be held on September 2 or 5. MILF secretariat chairman Muhammad Ameen said Murad, who recently arrived from Japan, will preside over the press conference. But he media outfits covering the press conference should apply for accreditation by sending an email addressed to MILF chief information officer Mohagher Iqbal at marshland2008@yahoo.com. Iqbal is concurrently chair of the MILF peace panel. — MRT/LBG, GMA News