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Sunday, August 10, 2008
Tawi-Tawi guv expects ‘smooth’ Armm polls
By Malu C. Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) has expressed certainty that the automated polls on Monday "would run smoothly."
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He attributed this to the overwhelming support of the local leaders in the candidacy of Armm re-electionist Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan and his running mate, Vice-Governor Ansarudin Adiong.
Ampatuan and Adiong are both from the administration's Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.
Sahali said the two are even backed up by religious leaders in Tawi-Tawi, dominated mostly by Tausugs, the sixth largest Filipino ethnic group.
There is no tension among all of the town mayors in Tawi-Tawi since all of us are supporting the Lakas-CMD candidates, Sahali said.
He added: "There is no animosity or rivalry among us, incumbent local executives and even among our constituent traditional and religious leaders because we have common candidates."
Also, local leaders in Tawi-Tawi and in other provinces in the Armm have expressed support to the efforts of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure honest and orderly automated polls this August 11.
Sahali said that if told to do so, they are ready to help the Comelec in administering peaceful elections in their respective provinces.
Leaders in Marawi City have also expressed support to Lakas-CMD candidates.
Marawi City Mayor Fahad Pre Salic said for the first time, his constituent-leaders do not have any other candidate for Armm governor and vice governor, except Ampatuan and Adiong.
Adiong is a native Maranao from Marawi City.
"This is something that has not happened before. Barangay chairmen in Marawi City supported different candidates for the two positions during 2001 and 2005 elections so tension was so high during those two succeeding regional elections, but this time, it's different," he said.
Earlier, the Armm's six provincial governors issued a joint statement of support to Ampatuan and Adiong. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (August 10, 2008 issue)
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