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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Moro rebel leader now an army commander
By Lino dela Cruz
Iligan Correspondent
MARAWI CITY -- A top ranking Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader in this city is now a battalion commander of the Philippine Army's 1st Reservist Battalion, Lanao del Sur.
The Pinning of Rank Insignia Wednesday to Major Omar Solitario Ali was also the turnover of command of the Philippine Army's 1st Reservist Battalion from outgoing 1st commander Major Cosain Derico.
Group commander of the 10th Regional Community Defense Group Army Reserve Command Colonel Samson Villamil officiated the oath taking of Ali.
Ali is an incumbent mayor of this city and was a former top ranking MNLF commander operating here and in Lanao del Sur for several decades fighting for the Bangsamoro cause.
Following the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the government and the MNLF that paved the way for the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), Ali opted to coordinate with the now-defunct Southern Philippines Development Authority through his work for non-government organizations in the rehabilitation of conflict-torn areas in Lanao del Sur.
Even with the success of the 1996 peace pact that established the Armm, Ali who is one of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari's member of inner circle, was not appointed to any post in the Armm.
However, Ali stayed in the sidelines and opted to continue the Bangsamoro cause by working with non-government organizations in the rehabilitation of conflict-torn areas in Lanao del Sur.
In 2001, Ali ran as candidate for mayor of this city and won. He is now on his second term as mayor.
Ali, a graduate of Masters in Public Administration from the Asian Institute of Management, has transformed Marawi City into a modern urban center but still preserves the Muslim culture and strict observance of Islamic Laws.
(May 25, 2006 issue)
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