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Mohagher Iqbal
Filipino politician and former rebel From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Datucan M. Abas,[1] better known by his nom de guerre of Mohagher Iqbal,[2] is a Filipino politician and former rebel who is a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front where he served as chair of the group's peace panel.
Currently serving as the inaugural Bangsamoro Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education since 2019.
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Education
Iqbal was born in Cotabato City[3] and grew up in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. Iqbal attended the Manuel L. Quezon University where he obtained both his bachelor's and master's degree[4]
Career
Iqbal joined the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in August 1972 after he returned from Manila. Later he joined the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), then known as the New MNLF Leadership. He served in various posts in both the MNLF and MILF.[4]
Iqbal is a member of the MILF Central Committee, and chair of MILF committee on information. He is also the peace negotiating panel of the group since July 2003.
When the Bangsamoro Transition Commission was formed he was nominated by his group to serve as chair of the peace commission.
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Names
Iqbal said that "Mohagher Iqbal" is just one of his aliases, which he said is natural of those who are part of revolutionary organizations.[2] His real name along with Murad Ebrahim's became an issue for former DILG secretary, Rafael Alunan III, who says that they travel using a Malaysian passport when travelling to Malaysia for peace talks, disputing their citizenship. Iqbal said that the government are aware of their true names while Miriam Coronel-Ferrer insists they are Filipino citizens.[5]
His real name was alleged to be "Datucan M. Abas" by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano but in April 2015, Iqbal says that he will neither confirm or deny the claim by Cayetano but will reveal his true name at the "proper time and proper venue". He questioned the motives of the senator saying it might be an attempt to derail the peace process.[6]Iqbal would use the same name in legal documents such as the 2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election.[1][7]
Iqbal also authored books under the pen name "Salah Jubair".[5] Among his works are the Bangsamoro: A nation under endless tyranny and The Long Road to Peace: Inside the GRP-MILF Peace Process which are about the Moro conflict.[8]
References
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