Manila: Umbra Kato, leader of a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has reportedly succumbed to a brain stroke, his former comrade said.
Reports quoted a text message sent by Datu Michael Mastura, legal counsel of the MILF, as indicating that Kato, 65, died Saturday evening in Davao City.
Kato headed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which he established in February after breaking away from MILF.
The daily Sun.Star reported on its website: "Now confirmed Ameril Umra Kato passed away in Toril."
Toril is a district in Davao City where Kato and his first wife had a house. The BIFF leader suffered a stroke late last week in the BIFF-held portion of Camp Omar, a complex on a strategic high ground overlooking the towns of Guindolongan and Datu Hofer Ampatuan.
Von Al Haq, the MILF military spokesperson, said the death of Kato is a "big loss" to the Moro armed movement. "He wished for a real solution to the Bangsamoro problem," Al Haq said while calling on Kato's followers to return to the fold.
