Mohagher Iqbal
{{Short description|Filipino politician and former rebel}}
{{use mdy|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Mohagher Iqbal
|image = Mohagher_Iqbal_portrait.jpg
| office1 =Member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament
| term_start1 = March 29, 2019
| term_end1 =
|1blankname1 = Chief Minister
|1namedata1 = Murad Ebrahim
|nominator1 = Moro Islamic Liberation Front
|appointer1 = Rodrigo Duterte
| office2 =Bangsamoro Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education
| term_start2 = February 26, 2019
| term_end2 =
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Cotabato City, Philippines
| birth_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| occupation =
| citizenship =
| education =
| known_for =
|module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
|allegiance = {{flagicon image|MNLF flag.svg}} MNLF (formerly)
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.svg}} MILF
|branch =
|serviceyears = 1972-1977 (MNLF)
1977- (MILF)
|rank =
|battles = Moro conflict
}}
}}
Datucan M. Abas,{{cite web |last1=Fonbuena |first1=Carmela |title=List: Nominees of BARMM political parties for the May 2025 parliamentary polls |url=https://pcij.org/2024/11/09/list-top-nominees-of-barmm-political-parties-for-parliamentary-polls/ |publisher=Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism |access-date=14 November 2024 |date=9 November 2024}} better known by his nom de guerre of Mohagher Iqbal,{{cite news|last1=Cabacungan|first1=Gil|title=Iqbal: Yes, I have many aliases|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/684385/iqbal-yes-i-have-many-aliases|accessdate=27 February 2016|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=9 April 2015}} 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.
Education
Iqbal was born in Cotabato City{{cite news|last1=Casauay|first1=Angela|title=Iqbal releases copy of Philippine passport|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/87032-iqbal-releases-copy-philippine-passport|accessdate=27 February 2016|publisher=Rappler|date=16 March 2015|quote=The passport – issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs Office in Cotabato City – shows that his nationality is Filipino and he was born in Cotabato City}} and grew up in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. Iqbal attended the Manuel L. Quezon University where he obtained both his bachelor's and master's degree{{cite web|title=Transition Commission - Members’ Profiles|url=http://www.opapp.gov.ph/sites/default/files/134142320-The-Bangsamoro-Transition-Commission-Members-Profiles.pdf|accessdate=27 February 2016|publisher=Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process}}
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.
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.
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. 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.{{cite news|last1=Magno|first1=Alexander|title=MILF is not sincere, says former DILG chief Alunan|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/03/16/milf-talking-peace-but-waging-war.html|accessdate=27 February 2016|publisher=CNN Philippines|date=16 March 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304162403/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/03/16/milf-talking-peace-but-waging-war.html|url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite news|last1=Sabillo|first1=Kristine Angeli|last2=Nawal|first2=Allan|title=Iqbal refuses to confirm or deny he is 'Datucan M. Abas'|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/685879/iqbal-refuses-to-confirm-or-deny-real-name-is-datucan-m-abas|accessdate=27 February 2016|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=16 April 2016}}Iqbal would use the same name in legal documents such as the 2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election.{{cite news |title=Who is Mohagher Iqbal in real life? |url=https://philmuslimtoday.com/2024/07/30/who-is-mohagher-iqbal-in-real-life/ |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=Philippine Muslim Today |date=30 July 2024 |language=en}}
Iqbal also authored books under the pen name "Salah Jubair". 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.{{cite news|last1=Arguillas|first1=Carolyn|title=Salah Jubair is Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF peace panel chair|url=http://www.mindanews.com/c106-grp-milf/2007/11/28/salah-jubair-is-mohagher-iqbal-the-milf-peace-panel-chair/|accessdate=27 February 2016|publisher=MindaNews|date=28 November 2007|location=Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat}}
References
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Category:People from Cotabato City
Category:21st-century Filipino writers
Category:Manuel L. Quezon University alumni
Category:Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament