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Thursday, June 12, 2008
Moro leader died of stroke
By Bong P. Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- One of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) ranking leaders died late Saturday in Tuburan town, Basilan province.
Hadji Julhambri Misuari, one of those who spearheaded the Cabatangan siege in November 2001 in Zamboanga City, succumbed to stroke, said Sharrif Moshin Julabbi.
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Julabbi, friend of Misuari, said the MNLF leader suffered high blood pressure.
Misuari is a nephew of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari. He was buried Sunday in Barangay Semut, Tuburan, following a Muslim burial rites.
The late Misuari belonged to the batch-90 members, the core group that formed the MNLF in the 70s. He was also considered as a "big commander" of the MNLF.
Julabbi said the death of Misuari is a great loss to the MNLF hierarchy.
In a report obtained by Sun.Star, most victims of the Cabatangan siege preferred not to comment on Misuari's death. There are some, however, who expressed condolence.
Misuari and some MNLF lieutenants have staged a siege in Cabatangan on November 27, 2001. They held hostage more than 100 people, including children, in Zamboanga City.
They paraded the hostages from Cabatangan and joined the rest of the group that separated and holed-up in Barangay Pasonanca following a firefight with government troops.
They were given free access to a so-called MNLF community in Barangay Dita, east of Zamboanga City, in exchange for the release of all of their hostages.
Misuari and his followers surfaced in the hinterlands of Sulu several months after the Cabatangan siege.
He and rouge members of the MNLF, along with Habier Malik, have also figured in a fierce battle with government troops in Panamao, Sulu in recent years. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (June 12, 2008 issue)
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