New Isabela City mayor sworn in by Basilan judge

BASILAN --- Former Anak Mindanao Party-list representative Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman took oath as mayor of Isabela City Wednesday, a new comer who defeated during the May 13 polls a rival from a politically influential clan.

The loss of incumbent Vice Mayor Cherry Akbar in that mayoral race has cut the last string binding the Akbar clan to the political world of Basilan where it ruled unchallenged for about two decades.

Hataman, spouse of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman, now incoming representative of Basilan to Congress, was sworn in by Regional Trial Court Judge Leo Jay Principe in Isabela City on Wednesday.

The newly-elected congressman also took his oath before Principe, who advised him and the incoming mayor of their duties and responsibilities as elected officials before swearing them in to their elective posts.

Congressman Mujiv served as regional chief executive of the defunct ARMM, now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, from 2010 until his turnover of his office last February to then newly-appointed BARMM Chief Minister Hadji Ahod Ebrahim, leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

His older sibling, Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman, was reelected to a second term on May 13, where he outvoted a challenger from the Akbar clan, Alfiya, daughter of the late former Rep. Wahab Akbar.

Hataman’s candidacy for mayor of Isabela City was supported by local Muslim and Christian voters whose communities she vowed to unite for peace to spread around,  a requisite for strong commerce and trade that can generate employment and entrepreneurial opportunities needed to address poverty and underdevelopment.

Salliman, first elected governor of Basilan in 2016, took his oath as chief executive of the island province before Judge Danilo Bucoy in Isabela City on Tuesday.

Salliman’s wife, Bai Annie, is daughter of the late former Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, a scion of a Moro noble clan in the second district of the province.

Salliman told reporters via text message after the event that he will focus on more programs meant to sustain the fragile peace now in their island province to boost the local economy.

He said he will also intensify the provincial government’s socio-economic thrusts to generate more extensive livelihood opportunities for the Muslim and Christian settlers in the 11 towns in Basilan and in its two component cities --- Isabela and Lamitan.