Hataman, other officials bid farewell to ARMM

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman (Photo from Eisenhower Fellows)

COTABATO CITY --- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman and members of his cabinet on Friday (February 8) bade farewell to their respective offices, which are set to be replaced by a new set of offices under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
 

Hataman and Vice Governor Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman, Jr. were joined by hundreds of rank and file regional government employees for Friday’s flag retreat where they posed for photos beside a giant tarpaulin which bore the message: “Thank you and Goodbye, ARMM.”

Two days earlier, former Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Djalia Turrabin-Hataman, wife of the ARMM governor, posted on her Facebook page a recollection of her husband’s service in the soon-to-be-abolished regional government.

“(We praise God) for the opportunity given to him to serve the ARMM and its people. He was not from any revolutionary front, not from an ethnic group that claims greatness and superiority but instead is a Yakan, who is looked down, even by some Muslim and Moro groups as a lower class tribe. He did not belong to the old rich or old political (or both) clans that have ruled for decades,” Djalia said of her husband.

She added: “(Hataman) is a son of a quiet community leader of a town… even the Basilan people consider a lowly backward municipality. His only claim to the seat he occupied was his consistent, principled stands when he was a young activist and as three-term Anak Mindanao representative in Congress”

“May history be kind to his seven years as public servant in the ARMM. And more importantly, may Allah (swt) find him worthy of His Mercy, accept his good deeds and forgive his errors, shortcomings, and excesses. It is not important for people to remember him, but may they benefit from the good that he has done and be protected from unfavorable consequences his actions and decisions may bring, in the near or far future,” the wife said.

Hataman has repeatedly assured that his administration would leave behind a “good legacy” to the upcoming administrators of the BARMM.   (Ali Macabalang, Mindanao Bulletin / Google News PH)

Petron gas station opens in Balabagan

FUEL BUSINESS --- Mayor Edna V. Ogka Benito (center) of Balabagan, Lanao del Sur leads the ribbon cutting for the opening of a Petron Gas Station in her municipality. Joining the rites are Vice Mayor Jober Ogka Benito (left), Fahad Benito (3rd from left), and daughter Emmylou Ogka Benito. (Anne B. Acosta) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.....

BALABAGAN, Lanao del Sur --- The municipal government of this town headed by Mayor Edna V. Ogka Benito and Vice Mayor Jover Ogka Benito welcomed the country’s No. 1 oil refinery and marketing company, the Petron Corporation, that opened its gasoline station last February 8 amid relief to the transport groups and commuters in the area needing fuel to enhance the transport system and other allied industries.

The Petron Gasoline Station is located at the Benito Business Park along the Pan-Philippine Highway in Barangay Upper Itil of the town. It is the first and only gas station in the bustling municipality of Balabagan in the 2nd District of Lanao del Sur.

Mayor Ogka Benito, in her message, expressed thankfulness to the country’s No. 1 oil refinery, the Petron Company, of putting up its business with a tie-up with COKES Service Station in her area of responsibility.

“Thanks for the trust and confidence entrusted to us. I am also thankful to the person behind  this business… Actually, this is a dream business of my supportive husband, (PNP-Ret.) Fahad Benito, who invested all of his retirement pay for this kind of business,” the lady mayor said.

“My husband said this is intended for our children as well as serve the transport and industrial sectors. I am also thankful to all the people here for their support in advancing the interests of our growing town… This is an indication of a peaceful and soon to be a more progressive community. Our aim is to give the people more job opportunities,” she further said. (Anne B. Acosta)      

Editorial

Solidarity bequeaths peace

Muslims and Christians showed again their solidarity to each other in the midst of terror threat to religion and security following the January 27 twin blasts in the Jolo, Sulu cathedral and January 31 bombing of a mosque in Zamboanga City. Both religious groups, in a convergence last week, sent a message of oneness in the fight against terrorism and extremism, not wanting to be intimidated by terror force that tend to divide a people.

When the Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo reopened to resume church services, members of a Muslim religious group guarded the gates of the cathedral to show their solidarity with the Christian faithful. In another scene, a number of Muslims converged in Zamboanga City in a prayer for the Christians.

Also last February 3, in a show of unity and peace, Christians and Muslims joined forces at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to condemn the deadly blasts that have rocked  Southern Philippines. The prayer rally was called “Walk toward Peace, Condemn Violence.” In another move, a nation-wide synchronized interfaith prayer was conducted last February 4 and 5.

 Our weapon(s) against acts of terrorism are always prayer and show or embrace of solidarity as a people, amidst cultural diversity. We continue to move on, not giving an inch of victory to evil minds. We sympathize with each and extend help  when disaster befalls a people and we condemn those who cause a peril to the co-existence of a pluralistic population. Humanity is at its best when people clothe each other for protection and security. Peace is always mankind’s quest so we can pursue our humanistic longings.

 We have shown religious respect to one another in a geographical setting of majority-minority affiliation and we want this phenomenon to be enduring.

 For what we know and witness, there is no religious suppression in our homeland, except for evil minds or doers wanting to create a religious divide and cultural conflict.

 Let evil ends instead be suppressed through our continued crusade for unity and solidarity against perpetrators of destruction. So we pray for peace and security.