Dimasangcay Pundato

Moro National Liberation Front

In the fight against the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, Pundato led the Maranao forces of the MNLF from 1973 to 1985, eventually becoming MNLF Vice-Chairman in 1978. He also fought internally for reforms in the rebel movement. Among the three pillars of the MNLF, only Pundato, the new Chairman of the MNLF Reformist Group became the only actively engaged in the fighting on the grounds while the rest were staying abroad and managing their forces literally by remote control. In 1980 he severed his relations with MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari when the latter refused the reforms demanded by Pundato of the organization with allegation of ideological differences and a leadership style tilting MNLF to one-man rule. This led to the creation of the MNLF Reformist Group which he headed.

As government official and the Mindanao Peace Process

Pundato in his long stint in the government he became Assistant Secretary, Undersecretary on Muslim Affairs in the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process (OPAPP) with focus on Muslim affairs, conflict resolution and mediation with Moro revolutionary groups. As Executive Director of Office on Muslim Affairs and provincial warden having executed development management and resource mobilization programmes in Muslim constituencies.

Self-exile and opposition to President Marcos

During self-exile, Pundato and the MNLF Reformist Group met with President Aquino's late father, the Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. in Kuala Lumpur. Believing in the reforms that Senator Ninoy fought for against Marcos, Pundato and the MNLF Reformist Group helped to fight Marcos dctatorship. But even then after his death of Senator Ninoy on August 21, 1983, in continuing their support for his dreams for our country, one year before the historic EDSA People Power Revolt, Pundato and the MNLF Reformist Group signalled support and political cooperation with the Ninoy Aquino Movement in San Francisco, California and in the country. As a gesture, Pres. Cory in 1986, tasked Former Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, currently the DILG Secretary to convince Pundato in Kuala Lumpur to return and be part of her government. Pundato then told Sec. Pimentel to first convince other Moro rebel leaders, such as Misuari & Salamat if they will accede to the peace negotiations since he and his reformist group agreed not to become an obstacle to peace but was bent to heed Cory's call national peace and reconciliation.

Christopher and Ramon Carreon became instrumental in the back channeling for the peaceful return of Pundato to the Philippines. Early in 1987, Ambassador Pelaez and Ambassador Mauyag Tamano, convinced Pundato in Kuala Lumpur to return to the Philippines without any demands and conditionalities he joined the government to support the return of Philippine democracy under the stewardship of then newly installed Pres. Corazon Aquino, then mother of young Noynoy Aquino. As a regular Resource Person to the Peace Commission of Ambassador Pelaez closely watched the Regional Consultative Commission in drafting the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao. From 1988 to 1998 Pundato was appointed Executive Director of the Office on Muslim Affairs where he had successfully institutionalized a system for running and managing the annual pilgrimage to Mecca Saudi Arabia. Among the innovations he introduced were: getting the lowest rates for the fare and quality accommodations in Saudi Arabia; Pundato was able to forge a strong relationship and raised the credibility of the Filipino Muslims with Muasasa or Hadz Establishment in charge for Southeast Asian Muslims.