ZAMBOANGA CITY, 7 July 2005 — Provincial governors in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the southern Philippines have promised to make next month’s election “clean and honest.”
On Aug. 8, at least 1.2 million mostly Muslim voters are to choose the governor, vice governor and Regional Legislative Assembly members of the region comprising the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi plus the cities of Marawi and Cotabato.
Governors Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. of Maguindanao, Wahab Akbar of Basilan, Benjamin Loong of Sulu, and Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi arrived at the weekend in Zamboanga from Marawi after meeting with the mayors of at least 60 towns for a caucus of the ruling Lakas-CMD coalition.
The four leaders endorsed the candidacy of Shariff Aguak town Mayor Datu Zaldi Ampatuan, who is running for governor, and his running mate, Lanao del Sur Assemblyman Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong.
Ampatuan and Adiong belong to two of Mindanao’s influential clans allied with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Multisectoral and religious groups, including the business sectors in Mindanao, have also expressed preference for the Ampatuan-Adiong tandem.
In a manifesto signed on Sunday, the four governors said they will make sure that the regional elections will be peaceful and honest. They also urged voters in the region to go out and vote wisely.
“Let us show our unity, and your vote will make a difference. It is time to move forward and develop the autonomous region as the next economic hub in the southern Philippines,” said Maguindanao Governor Ampatuan.
Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said there is a wide support for Ampatuan and Adiong from politicians and civic groups not only in the ARMM, but in other parts of Mindanao, because of their clean track records and competent governance.
A former regional lawmaker, Mayor Ampatuan said that if he gets elected he would turn the autonomous region into a booming regional trade center and would pursue an aggressive and ambitious agricultural development program to help thousands of farmers. He also promised to upgrade social and health care services, education, and public and social security programs.
“We will resolve the long-time crisis facing our civil workers, particularly the government teachers who are crying for justice because of the non-remittance of their contributions to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the delay in their salaries. We will do something about this,” Ampatuan said.
Adiong, on the other hand, said he would help transform the mineral and timber-rich provinces in the ARMM into a productive region to attract investments and put up trade liaison offices in the provinces.
“There are a lot of things to do in the autonomous region, we are so rich yet in natural resources, yet so poor because we lack development programs to attract trade and investments not only from the Philippines, but also abroad,” Adiong said.
The caucus also turned into a venue for Muslim political leaders to renew their strong support to President Arroyo. “The Muslims are supporting the administration of President Arroyo and we stand united behind her governance,” Adiong said.
