DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 24, 2012) – About a thousand people rallied on Monday in the southern Philippine city of Davao to dramatize their calls for reforms and peace efforts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The peace rally, held a public park, was attended by members of various civil society organizations, and lasted several hours. Those who joined the rally held placards and streamers urging Manila to decide on whom to appoint in next year’s polls.
In a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner, organizers of the peace rally led by the Movement for Sustainable Good Governance and the United Muslims, Christians and Lumads for Peace and Development in Mindanao, said the concern multi-stakeholders of the ARMM has shown cognizance on the issues of governance and leadership in the autonomous region.
It said the postponement of the 2011 ARMM elections by virtue of Republic Act 10153 was recognized by the ARMM constituent population because “it was a logical design to allow ARMM transition and with OIC Governor Mujiv Hataman, OIC Vice governor Bainon Karon and the members of the Regional Assembly appointed by the president to cradle the reform mechanism for the Muslim Autonomy to ascend.”
“The ARMM is now at its healing stage. Notwithstanding, the old and obstinate bureaucratic culture left in the institution on its remaining 8 months (to count) many were still hoping that institutional reforms can be established and corruption is reduced as government sincerely invested in its transition mechanism.”
“The reform mechanism for the ARMM is one of the commendable flagship achievements of President Benigno Aquino as far as Mindanao Peace and Development Agenda is concern. Hence, duty demands the multi-stakeholders of the ARMM all over the country to promote this achievement by increasing their driving force and popular participation in all efforts,” the statement said.
It said the achievement of the President deserves trust and confidence of the people in Muslim Mindanao and should be protected against stereotyped political wrangling of some inept politicos who lived-by the old conspiracies to divide Muslim leaders by creating scenarios that OIC Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman is appointed by the President to tactically earn political “winability” in the 2013 synchronized local, regional and national elections.
“Let it be known to people in the ARMM that the President and Mujiv Hataman good relations are for goodwill and assure the social contract with the people that Governor Mujiv Hataman pronounced is real that he will not run for election neither his appointment as OIC Regional Governor is a political scheme for his anointment by the president to become the official administration candidate for ARMM governorship this 2013 elections.”
“It is for these precise views and facts that we in the Movement for Sustainable Good Governance endorse our alternative Muslim leader Sulu Governor Dr. Abdusakur M. Tan to run for regional governor in the 2013 elections as official administration candidate and a standard bearer of the country’s leading Liberal Party. We issued this press statement in firmest solidarity to His Excellency’s mission for democratic reforms. We remain,” the statement said.
Aquino previously said that those he would appoint as OIC in the ARMM should not run in any electoral positions in next year’s polls. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Nickee Butlangan)
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