Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction head and former Sulu governor Yusop Jikiri, one of the towering figures of the Moro separatist movement in Mindanao, died on Saturday evening, October 17.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Sana-a Elizabeth Jikiri in a Facebook post on Sunday, October 18.

“I am always proud of you. I am forever grateful. I have no regrets that you are my father. I love you forever, Ama. Rest well, MNLF chairman, former Sulu governor and congressman,” the younger Jikiri said in her post appended with photos of her and her father.

He was 66 years old.

Jikiri was the governor of Sulu from 2001 to 2004 and was Sulu’s 1st District Representative from 2007 to 2010.

Before he died, he led his MNLF faction in supporting the recently passed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which cemented the autonomy of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

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His work for peace

In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Gilbert Gapay hailed Jikiri as a “pillar” in peace-building due to his decades-long career as a politician and a leader of the MNLF.

“His work with the MNLF and in Sulu as one of its former governors and congressional representatives were instrumental in forging of a strong partnership between the AFP and the MNLF in the quest for peace,” the AFP said.

The AFP chief was referring to the 1996 Jakarta Accord between the government of the Philippines and the MNLF, which integrated thousands of Moro separatist combatants into the AFP. Jikiri was then the chief of staff of the MNLF.

In 2001, Jikiri led a faction of MNLF leaders that broke away from the faction of Nur Misuari.

Jikiri’s group, also known as the Council of 15, was formed in late 2001 by the MNLF’s most senior leaders in the face of claims that MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari had lost the support of the Moro people. – Rappler.com