Probe sought on Iqbal’s use of alias in peace pact

Lawmakers called yesterday for an investigation on the use of an alias by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal in signing the peace agreement with the government.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc, said Iqbal may have violated Republic Act 6085 by signing the agreement with one of his aliases.

Romualdez said the government peace panel “may be equally guilty for allowing such to happen at all.”

“The law on the use of aliases is clear and simple. By letting Mr. Iqbal do away with this is a total disregard and mockery of the law by the very people who are supposed to uphold it just to cater to the vested interests of a chosen few. If we let them get away with this, what will stop Iqbal and his colleagues from further ignoring the law,” he said.

Malacañang earlier said there was nothing wrong with Iqbal’s use of an alias.

“Why did it have to take a House hearing for Mr. Iqbal and the government panel to admit to it?” Romualdez said.

Abakada Guro party- list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz, also a member of the bloc, denounced Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for clearing Iqbal of any legal liability without verifying first the circumstances surrounding what he said was an illegal act and, worse, without questioning the credentials of the MILF chief negotiator.

“Is she still the Philippine justice secretary or has she forgotten her oath? Is she working for the MILF?” De la Cruz said.

For his part, Buhay partylist Rep. Lito Atienza said the government peace panel, headed by Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, must explain why was Iqbal allowed to sign various agreements with the government using an alias.

He said in the past, some members of rebel groups were allowed to use aliases but only after revealing their true identities and having a sealed envelope containing their real credentials submitted to the government.

“That is the kind of good faith that we had expected Chairman Ferrer and her immediate boss, OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) Secretary (Teresita) Deles to exhibit. The question is: did they ever undertake that process at all?” Atienza said.

He asked if Ferrer and her staff made any verification on the true identity of Iqbal as MILF chief peace negotiator, and what action they took if such checks were made.

“If they did not make any verification, considering the sensitivity of the agreement and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), why not?” Atienza said.

Romualdez said Ferrer and her panel must be probed on their knowledge of RA 6085 and the constitutional provisions relevant to the BBL.