Philippines: Prominent Moro Muslim leader passes away

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA (AA) - Ghazali Jaafar, a leading figure of Philippines' Moro Muslims, passed away on early Wednesday, according to statement from Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The statement said MILF 1st Vice Chairman and Speaker of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Ghazali Jaafar died at 76 in Davao City.

The cause of his death was not specified, however, the statement said that Jaafar suffered from a stroke in July last year while in Metro Manila after the Bicameral Conference Committee of Congress agreed on the final version of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

"While still alive, Jaafar was frank and straight forward in his conversations with government officials relative to the Bangsamoro Law," the statement said.

MILF chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim was sworn in as chief minister of the interim government in Bangsamoro on Feb. 22, following a two-round referendum held on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6 in southern Mindanao to grant Moro Muslims autonomy.

The Philippines' landmark Bangsamoro Organic Law was officially ratified on Jan. 25, which granted comprehensive autonomy to Moro Muslims and ended decades of conflict between them and the government.