Adiong, Mangudadatu junk Tan, reaffirm support to reelectionist Hataman

BULUAN, Maguindanao --- Local executives from the five provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Tuesday swore over the Qur’an to remain supportive of the southern peace process, meant to put closure to the decades-old Moro secessionist issue.The event was one of the highlights of Tuesday’s solidarity conference” among Liberal Party (LP) stalwarts from across ARMM, held at the provincial capital, Buluan.The activity was jointly organized by Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and his younger siblings, Datu Jong, a businessman, and Khadafeh, a member of the ARMM’s 24-seat Regional Legislative Assembly.During the event, the Mangudadatus took turns endorsing the candidacy of Hataman, whose bid for a second term is being challenged by Vice Gov. Sakur Tan of Sulu, an impoverished and troubled ARMM province.Also present in the gathering were Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. and his constituent-mayors, and local executives from Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.Adiong said he and mayors in Lanao del Sur, which has 39 towns, are for Hataman and his running mate, reelectionist ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman.Almost all of ARMM’s 116 mayors, mostly LP members, have overtly been campaigning for Lucman too.Hataman’s wife, Sitti Djalia, Anak Mindanao Partylist representative, also joined the gathering.The local executives from Tawi-Tawi who attended the event were led by Panglima Sugala Mayor Rejie Sahali-Generale.Her brother, Nurbert, is the governor of Tawi-Tawi. Their older sister, Ruby, is the congressional representative of the island province. We are here to show our solidarity with Gov. Hataman,” Generale said.The mayors from Basilan were accompanied to the venue of the LP activity by the congressional representative of the island province, Jim Hataman, older brother of the ARMM governor.Two former congressmen in Sulu, Monir Arbison and Yusoph Jikiri, also both assured to help deliver” votes for the reelectionist ARMM governor. We are convinced of his dedication to foster peace and economic stability in Sulu and other parts of ARMM,” said Jikiri, a senior official of the Moro National Liberation Front.A local leader from the same province, Monib Estino, branded as nothing but a myth,” in a message recorded on camera by reporters, stories about Tan’s wielding of absolute political control over his subordinate-local officials. There is no truth to that. Why are we here? Our presence here is an indication that there are leaders in the province who can stand against him politically. We are for Hataman, not for Tan,” Estino said.Another Tausug local leader, Wahid Sahidullah, also assured to help Hataman win, during the May 9 polls, in areas where his followers and relatives reside.Officials present in the conference at the fully-air-conditioned Buluan municipal gymnasium told reporters it was for Hataman’s massive implementation of infrastructure projects in all ARMM provinces from 2013 to 2015 that they want him reelected. Surely there will be more projects that would sprout around like mushrooms. No other ARMM governor has done what he has accomplished in the past three years,” said Vice Mayor Roderick Furigay of Lamitan City.Lamitan City, the capital of Basilan, has more than 48,000 registered voters in 45 barangays, whose incumbent chairpersons are known for their political loyalty to Hataman.