Bangon Pilipinas senatorial bet is not our member –MILF
March 9, 2010 11:16 pm
By Janice M. Cave
MANILA, March 9 –The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday disowned that one of Bangon Pilipinas' senatorial bets is its former spokesman.
In a statement posted in its website, the MILF said that Zafrullah Alonto, one of the nine senatorial candidates of Bro. Eddie Villanueva's party, had never been a member of MILF.
"The MILF wishes to inform Bangon Pilipinas and the public that at no time since its founding did the MILF ever had a spokesman by the name Zafrullah Alonto. No person by such name is also a member of the MILF," the statement said.
According to MILF peace negotiating panel member Maulana Alonto, Zafrullah is a relative "who has lost touch with the family for about six years."
"He (Zafrullah) had some psychological problems and we were worried that his mental state would get him into trouble. So some family members exerted efforts to find him, but to no avail. He just vanished," Maulana said.
"But now that he claims to be what he is not, I have to set the record straight. The Alonto family has nothing to do whatsoever with Zafrullah Alonto’s running for senator under the Bangon [Pilipinas]. He is not, and has never been, a ‘former spokesman of the MILF’ let alone a member of the MILF or a ‘representative of the Bangsamoro people’ as being said by him or his handlers in public," he said.
When reached for comment, Bangon Pilipinas party said it will soon issue a statement regarding the issue. (PNA) RMA/jmc
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