MNLF to Malacañang: Scrap Armm election

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Cotabato City Mayor and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Muslimin Sema is calling Malacañang to scrap the election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) and instead appoint a governor to head the autonomous region. Sema sounded the call citing the election is a futile electoral exercise since it appears the candidates anointed or endorsed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are the ones winning the election. "The trend is that whoever is supported by Malacañang will become the governor. So, why have an election? Why not just appoint?" Sema said in an interview. Sema and other top MNLF leaders were in Zamboanga City for the two-day 1st Bangsamoro National People's Congress where they ratified the MNLF charter. The 12-point 19-page charter entitled Front Policy Declaration and Direction will serve as the front's policy and set of rules. Sema has replaced Nur Misuari as MNLF chairman after he was unanimously elected by the members of the central committee in a meeting last April 1 held in Pagadian City. He, however, confirmed that the MNLF is fielding Mayor Alvarez Isnaji of Indanan town in Sulu as the gubernatorial bet in the forthcoming Armm election since no one yet was anointed or endorsed by Malacañang. The more than 1.5 million registered voters of Armm will troop to the polling precincts on August 11 to vote for a regional governor, a vice-governor and the 24-seat Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA). Armm comprises of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City. Sema said they are hopeful that Malacañang will anoint or endorse their official candidate for the gubernatorial post. He said they are offering themselves to the government as partner in peace and development in Mindanao especially in the Armm, which is a product of the peace accord. The MNLF, which used to be the largest separatist group, has signed a peace accord with the government in September 2, 1996 ending the decades-old hostilities in Mindanao. "This is what we are putting across to our partner, the Philippine government, that we should be able to participate in the planning and delivery of basic services to our people," Sema said. "We don't want to make ourselves as beneficiaries of assistance but we want to be an instrument in delivering the basic services to the people," he added. - Sun.Star