Manila: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has confirmed reports that one of its former commander-turned-renegade faction leaders had suffered a stroke and is now partly paralysed.
Umbra Kato, 76, is bedridden and can hardly speak, the MILF's Luwaran website reported.
Kato was one of the most feared MILF leaders operating in the Liguasan Marsh area until he split from the mainstream MILF and formed his own group, the Bansanoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), in February and, later, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM).
Kato's BIFF had been engaged in clashes with their former comrades in the MILF, resulting in the death of combatants from both sides and the displacement of thousands of residents of several villages in Maguindanao.
Coming under increasing opposition from his own men, Kato had reportedly suffered a stroke several days ago. The dissenters are protesting against a meeting he had held with Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The MNLF had signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996.
Abu Misri, BIFF spokesperson, had denied in radio interviews that Kato, who allegedly has some 300 fighters under his command, had suffered a stroke.
But Abu Misri admitted that they were walking when Kato suddenly complained of shortness of breath. Prior to MILF's confirmation on Kato's condition, the Philippine Army had offered to provide treatment to Kato.
Major General Rey Ardo, chief of the military's 6th Infantry Division, offered the medical facilities of the 6th Infantry Division in Camp Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao to treat Kato.
Kato is facing at least 84 multiple murder cases in various courts for allegedly launching attacks in North Cotabato and Maguindanao in August 2008 after the botched signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.
After the failure to hammer out an agreement, MILF men, under the 105th Base Command, which was then under Kato, went on a rampage and harassed civilians and attacked military forces.
