'Kato recovers from bullet wounds'

MANILA, Philippines – Wanted Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Ameril Ombra Kato has reportedly fully recovered from gunshot wounds that almost killed him early this year, a senior military intelligence official said.

The military official, whose unit is directly involved in the government’s efforts to arrest Kato, said the rebel leader’s bullet wounds were not as serious as previously thought.

According to earlier reports, Kato died from several gunshot wounds following an encounter with government troops in Maguindanao early this year.

These reports were bolstered when Kato did not lead his men in clashes with Army troops in North Cotabato and Maguindanao for several months.

Kato, the military official said, apparently took advantage of his rumored death to evade arrest.

Kato is one of three MILF commanders being hunted for leading attacks on several villages in Central Mindanao last year that left scores of civilians and military personnel dead and wounded.

The two others are Abdurahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, head of the MILF’s 102nd Base Command operating in Lanao del Norte, and Alim Solaiman Pangalian, commander of the MILF’s 103rd Base Command, also based in Lanao.