ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 5, 2012) – Two Muslim politicians in the southern Philippines who are bitter enemies have a peace deal Tuesday, ending long years of feud and legal battles.
Governors Mujiv Hataman, of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Jum Akbar, of Basilan province, agreed to end their political feud in a ceremony held attended by hundreds of supporters from both sides in Isabela City.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles and other provincial governors – Sakur Tan, of Sulu; Sadikul Sahali, of Tawi-Tawi; and Mamintal Adiong, Jr. of Lanao del Sur – were also present during the peace pact initiated by Muslim religious leaders in Basilan.
“We are glad that peace has been achieved between two families,” said Tan, an influential politician, who are also close to both Akbar and Hataman.
Akbar is the wife of Basilan Congressman Wahab Akbar who was among 4 people killed in a motorcycle bomb explosion outside the House of Representatives in 2007.
Akbar’s family implicated Hataman and former Basilan governor Abdulgani Salapuddin, and other politicians as behind the attack. Hataman and Salapuddin, who is now in hiding, strongly denied all accusations against them.
The feud began after Hataman, who was then an aide to Basilan Congressman Wahab Akbar, split with the politician to support his brother Jim Hataman, who is now a congressman. (Mindanao Examiner)
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