Datu Salibo village chairmen elect theirLiga president

DATU SALIBO, Maguindanao --- The local government of this town headed by  Municipal Mayor Norodin “Franco” Salasal and  Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Monina Guialudin facilitated the election of officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay here last July 16 held at the Municipal Hall Building.

The municipality of Datu Salibois composed of 17 barangays and all chairpersons were present during the election to support their chosen Liga president.

        All of them agreed in choosing for the second time Chairman Abdulwaris Zailon of Barangay Poblacion Sambolawan.

As re-elected Liga ng mga Barangay president, Zailon gave assurance to his co-chairmen and the local government unit of his commitment to be of service attendant to his position, saying: “I will do my best to cooperate and support the programs and mandates of our national government.”

“We work hand-in-hand in unity with my co-chairmen to achieve our common goals towards building peace, pursuing progress, and developing our community. I also eye the strict implementation of the thrusts of our Barangay Anti Drug Advisory Councils as mandated by our government,” he said.

In a separate interview, Mayor Salasal expressed his thanks and gratitude to all barangay chairmen of his municipality, that in spite of the non-Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), “your untiring support and cooperation to this administration remain unconditional and I am doing my best to make this municipality free from illegal activities such as terrorism, extremism, and illegal drugs.”

“And, I don’t want any individual to put up their illegal businesses just to ruin the future of our children and to my constituents, particularly in this municipality,” the mayor further said.

“I am also thankful to our PNP and AFP personnel for their continued support and cooperation in making this municipality a peaceful one, although we are now facing or fall as victims of  man-made and natural calamities. Almost all barangays of this municipality are submerged into water due to heavy rainful,” he added. (ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’

Toss coin for DSA Liga presidency

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao ---  After a toss coin to break the tie, the lucky one, Chairman Anwar Kedtag of  Barangay Elian, emerged as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay of this town following the conduct of election last July 16 at the GAD Building of this municipality.

        The election was participated by eight barangay chairmen, three of them contesting the Liga presidency. The two other aspirants were Barangay Chairman Datu Mando Tambungalan of Kitapok and Barangay Chairman Zaiton U. Dimaukom of Salbu.

        Tambungalan and Kedtag tied the votes, hence, the tossing of the coin as is the ruling to determine the winning contender. The new Liga president is a neophyte in politics.

The conduct of the election was peaceful and successfully exercised under the presence of 601st Brig. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 601st Brigade.

The presence of a top ranking military official was unprecedented in the history of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, particularly in the conduct of the election of officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay here. With Brig. Gen. Carreon was Lt. Col. Alvin Iyog of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion.

Also with Municipal Mayor Bai Anida A. Dimaukom in the conduct of the Liga election were Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Anisa Abdulkarim and Municipal Election officer Estelita Orbase.

“Rest assured I will do my best to work hand-in-hand together with my co-barangay chairmen in unity towards our mission and vision to make this municipality a progressive and peaceful place to live-in, inspite the fact that we live inside the SPMS box. But still, we must do our best to live in unity, peacefully, and harmoniously. With the help also of our men in uniform, such as AFP and PNP, we in the barangay level have to strive to eliminate illegal activities in this town, such as illegal drugs, extremism, and terrorism,”Liga president Kedtag said.

        In his message, Brig. Gen. emphasized the importance of good and exemplifying leadership with a clear and definite mission and vision in his area of responsibility… “a political leader who works for the benefit and welfare of his constituents. And I am thankful that finally we have already our barangay officials who could help us in maintaining and monitoring the peace and order in this community. But, I’m also warning you --- report to your respective barangays regularly  because I have instructed my men to check your attendance daily to assure that you are working and serving your people in your area of responsibility,”

On the other hand, MLGOO Anisa Abdulkarim enticed the barangay officials to do their tasks as mandated by the national government. To the Liga president, she said: “You are responsible to monitor and to guide your barangay chairmen. Your rule is just like a father of seven siblings.. You have to entertain their problems and bring this out to our level or to our municipal mayor for immediate action.”

        Mayor Dimaukom, on her part, also congratulated the newly elected ABC/Liga president with the hope, as a new member of the Sangguniang Bayan of this town, the sectoral head could help attain “our goals to make this community a peaceful place to live in.” (ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

LIGA BUSINESS

LIGA BUSINESS --- Giving the PRRD sign are (3rd from left) Datu Salibo Chief of Police SPO3 Moner Macalpen, 2Lt. John Ace B. Apaling, Datu Salibo Mayor Norodin “Franco” Salasal and re-elected Liga ng mga Barangay President Abdulwaris Zailon, Al-Haj. (Anne Acosta)

TESTIMONIAL RITES

TESTIMONIAL RITES --- (Shown L-R are) Municipal Election Officer Estelita Orbase, DSA School District Supervisor Mayunting, MLGOO Anisa Abdulkarim, Mayor Bai Anida A. Dimaukom, Vice Mayor Bailon Dimaukom,  Dapiawan Barangay Chair Bengiamen Usop, Anwar Q. Kedtag ( newly elected Liga ng mga Barangay president), and Brig. Gen Deosdado Carreon of the 601st  Brigade. (Anne Acosta)

Editorial

The dynamics of autonomy and federal statehood      

Two political events to watch as these affect the dynamism of our society. One is the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the final version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, that would create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The other is charter change pushing for a federal form of government from the current unitary one.

        The plebiscite for the BAR, a parliamentary-democratic system, could be set sometime in November or December if ratified by both chambers of the Congress and approved by the President. Cotabato City will join in this plebiscite whether or not it be part of the new regional geo-political set-up.

Nevertheless, if people would ratify federalism in another plesbiscite, though majority in a survey negate the federal statehood, our city will form part of the Bangsamoro federated state in Mindanao.

        The Consultative Committee has been submitted the draft federal constitution to the President and the Senate, the latter already conducting a debate on the proposed provisions.  There is a move among Senators not to hasten charter change to give way first on the dynamism of the BAR, which would be another political experiment to function similar to a federal state with more political and economic empowerment, one that is perceived to stave off further conflict in the autonomous region. The BOL is a product of the long stages of peace negotiations between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the national government with so many stakeholders involved in the transition --- Muslims, Christians, and Indigenous People. Even foreign-donor countries form part of the stakeholders in pushing for long lasting and sustainable peace and development in the region.

        It is expected, though, that the BOL will be questioned before the Supreme court as to its constitutionality. We don’t know yet who will file a protest against the BOL. If it passes the scrutiny of the High Court, it will not be a short period to measure the functionality of the BAR. Will this bring about the desired peace? There is a need for disarmament of armed groups to realize tranquility and reduce conflict. How will it utilize the block grant to finance its programs and projects? With the rich natural resources, how will it make use of these to sustain its existence and be free from national dependency? Really, it would take years to test and witness the efficacy of the new political set-up which is yet to be born to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

        We cannot just cross our fingers on this regional development as we are partakers of this governance. We are directly a witness to change. Politics is a dynamic phenomenon, we are part of it, we cannot remain passive. Let’s see how the birth of the BARwill work for us… and then the federal statehood once people would ratify charter change. Such change(s) would end up either desirable or undesirable depending on the workability and adaptability of the new system.