Manila: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is refusing to confirm reports on the death of renegade Moro leader Umbra Kato despite strong indications.
"Unless we have tangible proof that Kato is dead, for instance if we can see his body or at least where he was buried, we can only as much as speculate," MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told Gulf News in a telephone interview.
He said that any report on the death of Kato is not officially coming from the MILF. Iqbal said that reports about the demise of Kato, if it turns out to be true, will have no bearing in the MILF's peace negotiations with the government.
"No effect at all [Kato's death], except that it bolsters the image of MILF as the undisputed and strongest revolutionary group in Mindanao," he said.
Iqbal, however, said that reports coming from the field indicate that Kato, 65, died several days ago after suffering some form of cerebral stroke. Kato broke away from MILF early this year over his opposition to the peace process.
