Maguindanao governorship still vacant – ARMM officials

February 2, 2010


(Ref.: Ali G. Macabalang, BPI-ARMM)

COTABATO CITY – Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) yesterday doused cold water on the debates over reports that acting OIC-Governor Nariman Ambolodto of Maguindanao might be replaced by a new appointee in the provincial leadership.

The issue at hand is not a matter of replacing Amboldto but to fill up a vacancy in the office of the Maguindanao governor, which is still vacant, ARMM officials clarified yesterday.

Civil society representatives had aired dismay after Local Government Undersecretary Marius Corpus announced in Metro Manila on Jan. 28 that the ARMM leadership has created a search committee for at least 27 aspirants to the vacant position for Maguindanao governor.

Corpus purportedly described the search “as part of overall efforts by the government to normalize operations in the said province” following the fateful massacre of 57 people including at least 31 journalists that resulted to the imposition of a short-lived martial law and the suspension cum detention of some officials including Maguindanao top leaders.

A day after the national government installed him into office last Dec. 14 as acting regional governor, Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong had appointed Engr. Nasser Sinarimbo and Amboldto, an incumbent board member, as OIC- governor and OIC-vice governor, respectively to fill the top Maguindanao leadership vacancies.

But Engr. Sinarimbo refused to assume office to pursue his career service in the ARMM bureaucracy, prompting Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno to install Ambolodto as OIC-vice governor on concurrent capacity as acting OIC-governor on Dec. 15.

Civil society groups including women’s sector and Church-backed NGOs have since shown satisfaction with the Ambolodto transitional governance.

But some interested resident leaders of Maguindanao have invoked to higher authorities and legal luminaries that the position of OIC-governor in Maguindanao is still vacant.

Hence, at least 27 of them have aspired for the slot, prompting acting ARMM Governor Adiong to create the search committee chaired by regional DILG Secretary Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman Jr. to screen them.

“Everyone is encouraged to apply or submit application (for the position),” said Adiong, who anchors his administration on the operating principles of transparent, consultative and moral governance.

ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo, a lawyer, said Ambolodto “may apply and be considered” in the screening process.

The issue at hand is not a matter of replacing Amboldto but to fill up a vacancy in the office of the Maguindanao governor, Sinarimbo said. (AGM/bpi-ARMM)