APD | MILF leadership confirms vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar's death

By APD writer Melo M. Acuna

MANILA, March. 13 (APD) – One of the key figures in the Bangsamoro movement, Ghazali Jaafar, past 70 years old, passed away at 1:00 A.M. today at Metro Davao Medical and Research Center, of lingering illness.

In a statement sent by MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim to this writer, he said the entire MILF officers, members and sympathizers are saddened for the passing of Brother Ghazali Jaafar, the 1st Vice Chairman of the MILF Jaafar.

“Vice Chairman Jaafar has been recommended to be Speaker of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament,” Chairman Ebrahim said.

He described Vice Chairman Jaafar as one of the “pillars of the MILF leadership” and with the Bangsamoro struggle for more than fifty years.

“We sincerely pray to Allah to reward his good deeds and accept his soul to paradise,” Chairman Ebrahim concluded.

Vice Chairman Jaafar was instrumental in the release of foreign missionaries kidnapped by still unidentified armed men since the late 1990s, from PIME Missionaries Luciano Benedetti in 1998 to Columban Michael Sinnott in 2009.  

He also served as MILF’s competent spokesman from the time of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in 1998 onwards.  He was accessible to both local and foreign media. 

Major General Cirilito Sobejana, commanding general of the Philippine Army’s Maguindanao-based 6th Division said Vice Chairman Jaafar’s passing is a “great loss” to the MILF and Bangsamoro organization.  However, he added there is no vacuum left because the MILF is composed of experienced and knowledgeable leaders.  

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)