ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 11, 2012) – Influential Muslim clerics and Islamic scholars from the southern Philippines have endorsed Sulu Governor Sakur Tan to President Benigno Aquino to be the government’s gubernatorial candidate for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections in May next year.
Tan’s endorsement came following a summit in the southern port city of Zamboanga attended by some 200 Muslim religious leaders and scholars from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Davao.
At least seven of Mindanao’s most influential clerics and scholars – Mahdi Baguinda, Muhamin Sakili, Jul-Asli Abirin, Jamal Munib, Abdulwahid Inju, Abdul Khabier Jamani and Caithum Hibasa led the summit.
They passed a resolution and manifesto urging the President to choose Tan, a known philanthropist, and a well-respected political leader in Mindanao.
“We, the undersigned, Muslim scholars and members of the religious sector and guardians of the Islamic faith; aware of our responsibilities to the Ummah or the Muslim community; recognizing the need for the involvement of all stakeholders in the peace and development of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; submitting to the command of the scriptures to choose the best among the Muslims to lead the community and lead the governance of the community, wish to make public our stand and commitment and relay to His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III…”
“In the summit of the Muslim scholars and religious leaders duly assembled we find in the person of the Honorable Abdusakur M. Tan, Governor of Sulu, the qualities of a leader the ARMM needs and resolve to endorse to His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III…that Governor Tan be anointed as the official candidate of the Administration’s Party as Regional Governor,” reads a copy of the manifesto obtained by the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Just recently, the Moro National Liberation Front strongly endorsed Tan as the government official candidate for the ARMM gubernatorial post, saying, the governor is the best choice to lead the Muslim region out of its current state where poverty and lack of development remain as two the biggest problems.
“The MNLF has found in the good person of Honorable Abdusakur M. Tan, Governor of Sulu, the needed qualities, credibility, experiences, and dedication to the cause of genuine reform based on transparency and accountability in governance pursuant to the reform agenda initiated by His Excellency Benigno C. Aquino…in all levels of government bureaucracies as exemplified by his political and governance slogan ‘Matuwid na Daan.’
“Now therefore, be it resolved…that we, the undersigned leaders and commanders of the MNLF representing various organs and instrumentalities of the Front in the ground strong support and endorse the candidacy of Honorable Abdusakur M. Tan…for the ARMM Regional Governor in the synchronized elections in 2013,” according to the manifesto sent by the MNLF to the Mindanao Examiner.
The summit was attended by more than 200 key leaders of the MNLF from Mindanao headed by Abdul Sahrin, its Secretary General.
Early this month, the Movement for Sustainable Good Governance, an umbrella organization of dozens of civil society groups in the southern Philippines, passed a resolution and a manifesto during a huge summit and endorsed Tan to be the government’s gubernatorial bet in the ARMM elections.
The Muslim region is composed of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao provinces, including the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.
“Gov. Sakur Tan has all the good qualities of a true leader and as representative of the Muslim people; we have endorsed the Sulu governor to be the official candidate of the Aquino administration to the upcoming ARMM elections in May.”
“The civil society organizations strongly support the leadership of Gov. Sakur Tan because of his genuine and untainted political career and sincerity to serve the people and bring peace, progress and development not only to Sulu province, but to the whole of the ARMM,” said Dr. Amildasa Annil, the leader convener and president of the Movement for Sustainable Good Governance.
The manifesto was passed following the 1st Zamboanga-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi CSO Summit held in Zamboanga City over the weekend. Some 300 CSO members from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Zamboanga City participated in the summit sponsored by two of the country’s largest sardine canning factories, the Mega Sardines and Amadeo Fishing Corporation.
“There is a strong clamour from various Muslim civil society organizations and Bangsamoro people for the Sulu governor to govern the ARMM and bring peace and development to the region and progress to all its provinces and constituents. Governor Tan is the only leader we see fit to be the next ARMM governor,” Ustadz Noreen Pallong told the Mindanao Examiner.
Pallong, an influential Muslim religious leader in Basilan, said provincial constituents are strongly supporting Tan.
Political leaders and civil society groups in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur province also passed similar resolution and manifesto in separate summits last week. (Mindanao Examiner)
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