His eldest son, Victor, said that Abat had been confined at Veterans Memorial Medical Center since Jan. 25. Abat later became Ramos’ defense secretary for nine months, until Ramos’ term ended on June 30, 1998. ADVERTISEMENTThe chief peace negotiator’s role brought Abat back to the early days of the MNLF separatist war, when he led the pacification campaign to quell the brewing rebellion. Abat was in charge “the day we almost lost Mindanao,” Yano said, quoting the title of Abat’s book. Turned the tide“Centcom commander, General Abat commanded the troops and turned the tide, thus saving Mindanao from being severed from the Republic,” Yano said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 10, 2018 23:26 UTC