Datu Montawal elected officials take mass oath

MCTC Presiding Judge Angelito V. Rasalan, (3rd from right) officiates the mass oath taking of elected and re-elected local government officials of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao  led by Mayor-elect Ohto C. Montawal (4th from right) and Vice Mayor-elect Vicman K. Montawal (extreme right). --- Photo by Anne Acosta 

DATU MONTAWAL, Maguindanao  --- The newly elected municipal officials of this town  formally took their oaths before  Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) Judge Angelito V. Rasalan, the officiating Judge,  last June 11 held at the Datu Montawal Sangguniantg Bayan (SB) Session Hall.

The  Mass Oath Taking was led by the outgoing municipal vice mayor and now the  newly elected Municipal Mayor Datu Ohto C. Montawal  together with their newly elected and re-elected  Sangguniang Bayan members headed by the outgoing municipal mayor  and now Vice Mayor-elect  Datu Vicman K. Montawal, son of the elected mayor. 

To sit as SB members are Mubarac Abubakar, Jasmerudin M. Mangadad, Bai Annie C. Montawal, Yussof M. Montawal, Jr., Jolicies B. Montawal, Bai Bebing M.Paglas, Robin Mindalagat,  and Hussain Esmael with  Nestor S. Salama,  the municipal president of the Liga ng mga Barangay. 

The ceremony was attended by representatives from different line-agencies, department heads, staff and employees, and barangay chairmen of Datu Montawal Municipality.

The father and son team and the elected officials gave their messages of gratitude to their fellow constituents for the unconditional support extended to them. 

“Without you and your votes last May2019, local and national elections, we are not here in front of you to take our mass oath taking,” said the newly elected municipal officials in unison.

        Vice Mayor-elect Datu Vicman C. Montawal, in his message, said: “Today, June 11, 2019, is the most important occasion to us because we are going to have our Mass Oath Taking and it is officiated by no less than our MCTC Judge Angelito V. Rasalan and is attended also by our Election Officer Esmael L. Lidasan. This is indeed a big event and a challenge, too, in our life because, as we all know, being an elected local official is not an easy task.  This is a mandate of the people and we are so lucky because they gave us the votes for us to become their leader and public servants.  The trust and confidence are definitely entrusted unto us.”

“So, this time, I am calling the attention of the eight re-elected and newly elected municipal councilors to be united as we go to work hand-in-hand for the future and progress of our locality and for our young generation as well. We are here as elected local officials with one common --- to make this place into a more progressive, developed, and peaceful community to live in,” he further said.

        Mayor-elect Datu  Ohto C. Montawal, in his message, emphasized the importance of being an honorable or an elected politician.  “Our role is not just like a basketball game that if you want to pass it through to your playmates, you can easily do it. Our task as elected officials of this town is to serve the people the best we can, to work-hand-in hand in unity for the betterment of our locality.”

“As a leader and a public servant, we have to be united in order to pursue our vision and mission of this municipality. As much as possible, I don’t want to have any miscommunication or misunderstanding between and among our elected officials that could probably distract our future plans and programs for this town. I want all of us to work together in unity for our common goals and in accordance with the mandates of our national government,” he stressed. 

We have to continue working together as one in serving the needs of our people. We have to implement the projects we have promised to them during the campaign period. More development, progress, peace and order, and a peaceful community are my priorities,” Mayor Montawal said.  (Anne Acosta)