Datu Unsay’s first councilor takes mayoralty post

FROM COUNCIL TO MAYORALTY --- Datu Andal Ampatuan V takes oath before Senator Nancy Binay.

DATU UNSAY, Maguindanao --- A member of the Ampatuan clan is now the mayor of this town after both the elected mayor and vice mayor resigned from their posts on July 1, the start of the official function of elected local government officials.

Datu Andal “Datu Aguak” Ampatuan V took his oath before Senator Nancy Binay in Quezon City last July 23.

Atty. Richard Petisme,  Ampatuan V’s legal counsel, said the effectivity  of  his succession took effect on July 1.

It was learned that mayor Fuentes Dukay and his son Wanay Dukay stepped down from their posts, citing as reason their “lack of capability to govern."

The assumption of elected first councilor Datu Andal V as mayor of Datu Unsay is valid and legal under the rule of  succession as stipulated in the Local Government Code. This has been clarified by Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Atty. Sinarimbo said it was only logical for Ampatuan V to sit as mayor after garnering the highest number of votes as number one councilor in the May 13, 2019 polls.

“Under the rule of succession in Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, it is granted,” Atty. Sinarimbo said.

Ampatuan V is the son of former Datu Unsay mayor Datu Unsay  “Andal” Ampatuan, Jr.

The new mayor, who had just turned 21, is the second of six siblings.

Bai Janine Mamalapat, who garnered the second highest votes for town councilor, is now the new vice mayor, also by rule of succession.

Atty.  Petisme said the young mayor is yet to gather the municipal government officials and employees to discuss his plans and programs for the municipality.

"The good mayor now is focusing his direction towards the progress and development of the humble town. He will soon pronounce his program of government through the policy of consultation and sectoral participation in governance," said Petisme.

Mayor Ampatuan V has appealed to his constituencies for their cooperation in the development initiatives of their local government unit under his administration. (Gilmhar Lao & Anne Acosta)