Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return.
It is with profound sadness that we bid farewell to one of our peace champions in the Bangsamoro region — Brother Oshama B. Ali who peacefully passed away at two in the morning today.
The Government of the Philippines – Peace Implementing Panel and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process headed by Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. extend its deepest sympathies to Brother Ali’s family, friends and colleagues.
Brother Ali was among the core members of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who closely monitored and coordinated the operations of the AHJAG to ensure that a conducive and peaceful environment is in place for the GPH-MILF Peace Talks.
In recognition of his strong leadership skills, he was named as camp coordinator of the Joint Task Forces on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) of Camp Busrah Siomiorang in Lanao del Sur, in 2014, as well as MILF training director of the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST).
While simultaneously holding those two key positions, he advocated for initiatives to develop the government-recognized MILF camps, and helped oversee the training of MILF – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) who became members of the JPST.
Brother Ali was known among his Maranao brothers and sisters for his courage, dedication and selflessness. When the Marawi siege broke out in 2017, he was among the first volunteers and named member of the Joint Coordination Monitoring and Assistance Center (JCMAC) of the GPH-MILF Peace Corridor.
As a member of the Peace Corridor, he took part in the daring rescue of 255 civilians who were caught in the crossfire. Wearing the iconic Peace Corridor shirt, he braved bullets and mortal fire to pull out the victims and get them to safety.
During an interview, he was asked if he could still manage his heavy workload even while fasting (for it was the month of Ramadan), Brother Ali responded by saying, “Okay lang ‘yan, no problem. Obligation naming maglitas ng buhay ng kapwa namin.”
Brother Ali has been instrumental as well in the series of peace dialogues and campaigns on the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the Lanao provinces.
A hundred pages cannot give justice to the innumerable contributions Brother Ali has made to the Bangsamoro peace process, particularly in the implementation of initiatives that are now uplifting the lives of his people.
Over the past six years as an MILF coordinator to the Joint Task Forces on Camps Transformation for Camp Busrah Somiorang, he had been actively working with the government and other peace partners in drafting a Camps Transformation Plan (CTP) that is envisioned to pave the way for inclusive sustainable development in Bangsamoro communities.
Brother Ali, you may no longer be here with us to witness the turnover of the CTP that you have worked so hard to craft. But we in the GPH Peace Panel and OPAPP promise to help turn these plans into reality.
Through your invaluable contributions to the peace process, the Bangsamoro people can look ahead to a better, brighter and more peaceful future. There is no doubt that your sacrifices will bear fruit In Shaa Allah (in the will of Allah SWT).
You will greatly be missed, Brother Ali. May the Almighty Allah (SWT) grant you the highest level of Jannatul Firdaus.
Shukran katir, Brother Ali!
