Mindanao Development Authority chair Alonto passes away

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Datu Hj. Abul Khayr Alonto passed away on Thursday due to complications to lungs and heart.

Alonto's death was announced by MinDA in a Facebook post on Friday.

"A life dedicated to advance the lives of all Mindanaoans, Secretary Alonto selflessly and relentlessly fought for Mindanao until the end, a true warrior for development and advocate of peace," MinDA said.

Alonto, a former Marawi City mayor and official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was the first Muslim to head MinDA) brings to fore timely Bangsamoro representation in the overall socioeconomic development of Mindanao.

In 1979, more than two years after the 1976 Tripoli Agreement was signed between the Philippine government and the MNLF, Alonto participated in the institutionalization of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which has been replaced by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. —KBK, GMA News