Turabin-Hataman steps down as Anak Mindanao party-list solon

Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman has resigned as representative of Anak Mindanao party-list.

Turabin-Hataman announced her resignation in a privilege speech at the House of Representatives on Monday.

Before being elected a party-list representative, Turabin-Hataman served as executive director of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

She served as Anak Mindanao party-list representative in the 16th and 17th Congress.

In her speech, Turabin-Hataman said being a member of the House of Representatives is a great honor, "to be the people’s voice, to be their representative, to decide and cast a vote for and in their behalf, on policies and laws that affect their lives, from conception to death."

She did not directly state her reason for resigning, but said that being a representative was no comfortable task, especially with one's own persuasions that may not always align with those whom one represents.

Still, Turabin-Hataman said she does not regret any single moment of being an Anak Mindanao representative.

"I shall hold it one of my greatest blessings, perhaps a destiny I was meant to fulfill. The knowledge, wisdom and competencies I gained as a member of this House;... the doors of opportunities it opened not just for myself but for every deserving individual and cause; the people I met and whose friendships I shall value my whole life, all these I will carry with me beyond the walls of Congress," she said.

These experiences, Turabin-Hataman said she will bring when she goes back to her people not as their representative but as one of them.

"Whatever title or position or status we have, when it no longer serves that purpose, become meaningless. There is no higher office or lower rank, what matters is where and how you can serve best. This is a reminder foremost to myself," she said.

Turabin-Hataman's position at the House of the Representative will be relegated to her party-list's third nominee, Amihilda Sangcopan, while the second slot still belongs to Representative Makmod Mending Jr. — BM, GMA News