ARMM leaders want me as OIC - Mangudadatu

Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto" Mangudadatu on Wednesday claimed he has been endorsed to become temporary governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) following the Malacañang-backed postponement of the elections there this year. At the sidelines of Wednesday’s hearing on the Maguindanao massacre case at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, Mangudadatu said the endorsement came from the heads of ARMM provinces during a meeting at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City Tuesday night. He said present at the meeting were Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar, Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto, and Marawi City Mayor Fahad Solitario. Malacañang is now in the process of appointing officers-in-charge in ARMM after Congress recently passed a measure moving the ARMM elections from August 8, 2011 to May 2013. The OICs will hold their respective positions until new officials are elected in 2013. Aside from Mangudadatu, who lost his wife and two sisters in the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre, the ARMM leaders selected Tan as the ARMM representative in the screening committee that will shortlist the nominees for ARMM OIC. According to Mangudadatu, the five-member screening committee will be composed of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, presidential adviser on political affairs Ronald Llamas, a representative from civil society, and a representative from the ARMM. Mangudadatu said he is hesitant on becoming a nominee for the post as the other nominees are his friends. Mangudadatu said aside from him, there are 33 other nominees who are being considered to become ARMM OIC. The list includes his uncle Pax Mangudadatu, a former lawmaker from Sultan Kudarat; and former party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman. He said the ARMM governors will be forwarding his endorsement to Malacañang within the day. Asked if he is willing to become ARMM OIC, Mangudadatu said: “Depende iyan sa tao, if that’s the will of the people and the leaders." A suspect in the massacre, Zaldy Ampatuan, headed the ARMM until he was suspended in late 2009 following the carnage that left 57 people dead. The Ampatuans are political rival of the Mangudadatus, and the massacre was allegedly carried out to prevent Mangudadatu from running for Maguindanao governor in the May 2010 elections. - KBK, GMA News