Bangsamoro leader Ghazali Jaafar, 75

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  —  Ghazali Jaafar, 75, held in high regard as a Bangsamoro leader, succumbed to lingering illness in a hospital here at around 1 a.m. yesterday.

Describing him as a “warrior of peace,” Malacañang paid tribute to Jaafar yesterday.

“He has fought many battles for peace and may Allah grant him a place in Jannah or Paradise,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

Jaafar was last seen in public last Feb. 22, when he attended oath-taking ceremonies at Malacañang.

“Jaafar selflessly dedicated and devoted his life for others. Truly, he is a man of peace,” said presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr.

Jaafar led the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

“We will never forget that despite his health condition, Jaafar went the extra mile to join several campaign rallies to push for the realization of the Moro people’s aspiration for genuine and meaningful autonomy,” Galvez added.

The Department of National Defense (DND) also condoled with the family and friends of Jaafar.

“May Allah grant him rest in Jannah or Heaven,” said Arsenio Andolong, DND Public Affairs Service director.

MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim cited Jaafar as one of the pillars of the MILF in the Bangsamoro struggle. Jaafar was the first vice chairman of the MILF.

“We consider (his death) as a big loss to the leadership of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” Ebrahim said.

Jaafar was chairman of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) before it became the Bangsamoro Transition Authority following the ratification of the BOL last month.

“A sad day for us all with the passing of brother Ghazali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman and chairman of the (BTC) which successfully brought the (BOL) into reality,” former presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza posted on Facebook.

Catholic priest Eliseo Mercado also paid tribute to Jaafar.

“Celebrating and remembering friendship and our common struggle for a just and peaceful Mindanao on the passing of MILF vice chairman (Jaafar). Prayers and condolences to his family and to the MILF,” Mercado said.

 Jaafar died weeks after his admission to a hospital, according to his son Johari Abo.

Jaafar earlier told The STAR that he had an angioplasty, a procedure that improved blood flow to his heart.

But he suffered complications after the surgery, leading to his frequent confinement.

Earlier this week Jaafar complained of abdominal pain. He was in intensive care and was diagnosed with a kidney problem.

Jaafar’s remains were brought to his family’s farm in Barangay Pigkalagan, Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao.

Peace process

Jaafar was the first chairman of the MILF negotiating panel when peace talks started in 1997 and was responsible for a ceasefire agreement with the government.

The MILF in 2014 signed a landmark pact with the Aquino administration to end separatist insurgency that had killed 150,000 persons since the 1970s.

Ebrahim, Jaafar and the MILF’s former chief negotiator and now BARMM education minister Mohagher Iqbal were still adolescents when they joined the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the 1970s.

They bolted the MNLF along with senior rebel leader Hashim Salamat in the 1980s and founded the MILF.

Salamat, who studied Islamic theology at Al-Azhar University in Egypt and political science professor Nur Misuari organized the MNLF in the early 1970s but became estranged over ideology and religious practice.

Condolences

The Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed its condolences to Jaafar’s family.

“From a worthy adversary to a partner in peace, chairman Jaafar shared the PNP’s aspirations for genuine and lasting peace in Mindanao,” PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said in a statement.

“By reaching out the magnanimous hand of friendship and peace, chairman Jaafar sought to make the peace process work through the newly ratified (BOL),” Banac added.

Senators were likewise saddened with the death of Jaafar.

“(But) I am happy that Mr. Jaafar was able to see the fruition of their peace talks with the government. My condolences to the Jaafar family and the entire MILF organization,” Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said.

Sen. Sonny Angara described Jaafar as a voice of reason and a voice for peace.

“In exchange of arms (the MILF) surrendered, (the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) gave equipment such as welding machines and ovens, among others, to jumpstart the livelihood of their fighters who returned to the fold of the government,” Sen. Joel Villanueva said.

“Today is a sad day for the Bangsamoro and the country as (MILF first vice chairman and BTC chairman Jaafar joined Allah early yesterday) morning,” said Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc.

“I call on my fellow Bangsamoro people and Filipino people to continue his deeds by making sure that we embody the value of peace in everything that we do. Let us honor (Jaafar) by honoring his creed of peace for the Bangsamoro and the Philippines,” she added.

Gutoc said the Bangsamoro people will remember Jaafar as a fighter for peace and security.

She added that Jaafar fought hard so the Bangsamoro people could have independence.

“As a measure of how great an influence he is to me and other people, I made the decision to run for senator upon his advice. I consulted him on my decision,” she said. – With Christina Mendez, Jaime Laude, Jose Rodel Clapano, John Unson, Emmanuel Tupas, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Helen Flores