MANILA, Philippines — In what could have significant effects on the peace processes with Muslim groups, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Prof. Nur P. Misuari held Thursday a one-on-one meeting with Commander Ameril Umra Kato, chieftain of the newly formed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM).

The Manila Bulletin learned about this Misuari-Kato meeting from a source in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who said the two Moro leaders' meeting lasted about an hour, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

He said Misuari and Kato met in Sitio Sumel, barangay Keteman, Guindulungan, Maguindanao.

“Their one-on-one meeting lasted about an hour. No one was allowed to come near them during their talks," the source added.

Reached for comment Friday, Prof. Mashur Ghalib bin Jundam, MNLF education committee head, confirmed the Maguindanao meeting.

Jundam spoke about the need for unity between and among Moro leaders, but declined to reveal the meeting's agenda.

“We need to awaken, at times, our leaders. Disunity, due to personal interest over and above Bangsamoros' interest," he said, makes it even harder for Muslim Filipinos "to live in an evil-free Mindanao."

“When nails have grown longer, we cut nails, not fingers. Similarly, when our rift or misunderstanding exists, we should cut pride not relations," said Jundam.

On the other hand, the unnamed source said he learned that Misuari's convoy of MNLF leaders and forces came from Pikit, North Cotabato, and was met by Kato, who was in full-battle gear.

“Kato had a samurai on his back, two pistols on his left and right waists, and another baby M203 grenade with him," the source said.

He said before the one-on-one meeting Misuari relayed to Kato updates on the peace process between the MNLF and the Philippine government (GPH), telling him there of a coming meeting between the two parties with the presence of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The source said Kato reportedly replied that he supports Misuari's position on the GPH-MNLF peace process and he (Kato) was open to a unity.

“Then, when they had the one-on-one meeting, no one was allowed to come near them," the source said.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee, after months of trying to woo back Kato, finally "expelled" him and his men through Resolution No. 02/09 Series of 2011, which was adopted Sept. 22, and then signed by MILF Chairman Al-Hajji Murad Ebrahim on Sept. 30.

The resolution stated that Kato and his men are still welcome to return to the MILF fold if he makes amends and accepts the MILF's authority.

Kato was expelled by the MILF after forming his own armed group called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and later his political wing, the BIFM.

Kato, a government scholar on Islamic studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the Marcos regime, said then he was not splitting from the MILF, but was forced to form his own group because he was excluded in decision-making during the breakout of violence as a result of the aborted memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain.