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Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Sayyaf supports candidates for barangay polls, says mayor
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY –- A top local government official in the island province of Basilan disclosed that the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits are backing up some candidates for the forthcoming barangay elections.
Mayor Joel Maturan of the newly-created town of Ungkaya Pukan said Tuesday that at least 10 candidates for the position of barangay chairman have the backing of the Abu Sayyaf bandits in his municipality and in the neighboring towns of Tipo-Tipo and Al-Barka.
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Before he became mayor of Ungkaya Pukan, Maturan was the mayor of Tipo-Tipo town from which Ungkaya Pukan and Al-Barka were crafted out and converted into new municipalities of Basilan province.
“Hindi naman lahat. Pero mayroon ‘yung sa tabi nila o kinaroroonan nila may candidate sila diyan. Nag-susuport sila sa mga kandidato diyan (Although not everybody, but those residing near their area or within their area, they have candidates. They support the candidates),” Maturan said.
He added: “Hindi ko matiyak pero basta mayroon diyan mga palagay ko diyan lang sa amin more or less sampu sa (I cannot ascertain their identifies, but there are those who are being supported. In my area alone, there are more or less 10.”
Tipo-Tipo town was divided into three towns through an act last year by the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
Maturan said the Abu Sayyaf bandits will not stay in any of the barangays within the three towns if there no one supports them there.
He placed the strength of the Abu Sayyaf in the three areas to more than 30 people headed by Puruji Indama.
Maturan is recommending the clustering of some of the barangays during the synchronized Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections to prevent the bandits from harassing the electorates into voting in favor of their candidates.
Maturan though could not say whether the concerned authorities are already aware that the Abu Sayyafs are backing some of the candidates for the barangay elections.
Military troops have been pursuing the Abu Sayyaf in the past months not only in Basilan but also in the province of Sulu. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (October 17, 2007 issue)
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