Mohagher Iqbal is the ''

nom de guerre A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

'' of the member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front who serves as chair of the group's peace panel.

Education

Igbal was born in Cotabato City and grew up in

Datu Odin Sinsuat Datu Odin Sinsuat, officially the Municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat (Maguindanao language, Maguindanaon: ''Inged nu Datu Odin Sinsuat''; Iranun language, Iranun: ''Inged a Datu Odin Sinsuat''; tl, Bayan ng Datu Odin Sinsuat), is a municipality ...

Maguindanao Maguindanao (, Maguindanao language, Maguindanaon: ''Prubinsya nu Magindanaw''; Iranun language, Iranun'': Perobinsia a Magindanao''; tl, Lalawigan ng Maguindanao) was a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines located in the ...

. Iqbal attended the

Manuel L. Quezon University The Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational basic and higher education institution in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. It is named after the second president of the Philippine Manuel L. Quezon. History ...

where he obtained both his bachelor's and master's degree

Career

Igbal 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 The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) was a government body which was tasked to aid in creating the draft of the Bangsamoro Organic Law as well as the transition body in the areas to form the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region until the constitu ...

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 alias which he said is natural of those who are part of

revolutionary A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective, to refer to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor. ...

organizations. His real name along with

Murad Ebrahim Ahod Balawag Ebrahim (born 15 May 1949), better known as Al-hajj Murad Ebrahim, is a Moro Filipino politician and former rebel leader currently serving as the first chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. As the cu ...

'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 Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is a Filipino peace negotiator and the chair of the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines during the time of President Simeon Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016). On behalf of government, she signed the Comprehe ...

insists they are Filipino citizens. His real name claimed to be "Datucan M. Abas" by Senator

Alan Peter Cayetano Alan Peter Schramm Cayetano (Tagalog pronunciation: ajɛˈtano born October 28, 1970) is a Filipino politician, lawyer, and diplomat serving as a Senator since 2022 and previously from 2007 to 2017. He was the Senate Minority Leader from 20 ...

but in April 2015, Iqbal says that he will neither confirm or deny the claim by Cayetano and says he will reveal his real name at the “proper time and proper venue.” and questioned the motives of the senator saying it might be an attempt to derail the peace process. 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 The Moro conflict is an insurgency in the Mindanao region of the Philippines, which has involved multiple armed groups, and has been ongoing since March 1968. Peace deals have been signed between the Philippine government and two major arme ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iqbal, Mohagher Filipino Muslims People from Cotabato City 21st-century Filipino writers Manuel L. Quezon University alumni Living people Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament Year of birth missing (living people) Moro Islamic Liberation Front members