ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Mindanao Muslim leaders are asking President Aquino to stick by his promise that part of the requirement in appointing officials in the transition government of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is an appointee with no intention to run for political office in the 2013 elections.
But reports have reached Mindanao leaders that Malacañang is allegedly
fielding ARMM Acting Gov. Mujiv Hataman as candidate for the top post in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in next year’s election alarmed the group,
saying that such move may cause divisions among Muslims in Mindanao.
In a press release, Mindanao-based organizations led by the Davao-based
Movement for Sustainable Good Governance (MSGG) said such action may also cause
the Palace to lose the goodwill with the Mindanao people who are likely to see
the President’s appointment of Hataman to the post in 2011 as a mere political
charade to increase his “winnability” in the 2013 ARMM elections.
MSGG Convenor Dr. Amildasa Annil also admonished political groups against
fanning talks of alleged Palace-led “conspiracies to divide Muslim leaders by
creating scenarios that OIC Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman is appointed by the
President to tactically earn political `winnability’ in the 2013 synchronized
local, regional and national elections” in the ARMM.
Annil said that it is best for the President to show that his move of
appointing Hataman to the ARMM post as being aimed at bringing “goodwill” and
“social contract” with Muslims in Mindanao.
He said that alleged “political scheme” to later “anoint” Hataman as the
“administration candidate for ARMM governorship this 2013 elections” will have
negative implications.
The group came out with the statement as an offshoot of news reports
indicating that the President is inclined to field Hataman to the top ARMM post
to continue the President’s reform initiative.
Annil reminded the President of a promise he made not to appoint to the
ARMM post someone who is aspiring to run for the same post in next year’s
election.
“No less than President P-Noy, in a press conference held June 30, 2011,
stated that one of the qualifications for OIC appointment is ‘yung walang balak
tumakbo sa ARMM Regional Government’ (someone not planning to run for the ARMM
Regional Government post)," Annil said.
The MSGG said the Aquino Administration will be judged as having
successfully brought progress and peace in Mindanao should it keep its word to
have Hataman serve as head of the “transition” government amid instability
brought about by the Maguindanao Massacre.
“The ARMM is now at its healing stage. Notwithstanding the old and
obstinate bureaucratic culture left in the institution in its remaining 8
months (to count), many are still hoping that institutional reforms can be
established and corruption is reduced as government sincerely invested in its
transition mechanism,” the MSGG said.