FILE PHOTO: Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Ebrahim Murad and MILF Peace Panel Chief Mohagher Iqbal
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang refuted the statement of former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Rafael Alunan on the issue regarding the citizenship of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Ebrahim Murad and MILF Peace Panel Chief Mohagher Iqbal.
On Alunan’s Facebook page, he said that the government authorities should look into the information that the government is dealing with foreigners and foreign invaders, and he was been told that said MILF officials have Malaysian travel documents.
“I agree that government authorities need to look into this information to determine if we’re dealing with foreigners and foreign invaders. From my end, I’ve been told by Mindanao sources that they have Malaysian travel documents. NICA, DFA, NBI and IMMIGRATION should validate this ASAP,” said Alunan on his FB page.
Presidential Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Junior said these are baseless according also to Iqbal.
Malacañang is convinced that Murad and Iqbal who are the primary representatives of peace talks in Mindanao are Filipinos and not Malaysian citizens.
According to Coloma, for the past 17 years, under the administration of former president Fidel V. Ramos, Murad and Iqbal have been conferring with the Philippine government in peace negotiations.
He added that in those years, their citizenship has never been questioned.
Coloma further stressed that as a matter of fact, both houses of Congress recognized Murad and Iqbal’s legitimate roles in the peace process by inviting them in the congressional hearings. (Nel Maribojoc/ UNTV News)