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Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Political reconciliation moves Armm forward: governor
EFFORTS of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) for political reconciliation and unification is gaining ground, as more and more local leaders are expressing their support to his administration.
Over the week, three town mayors and a city mayor from Lanao del Sur have come and reconciled with Regional Governor Ampatuan and expressed their commitment of support to the programs and policies of his administration in the Armm.
Mayor Minda Dagalangit of Lumba Bayabao town, Mayor Tupaan "Tony" Disumimba of Tamparan town and Mayor Nairn Dipatuan of Bacolod Kalawi town, all of Lanao del Sur, met with the governor on December 27, 2005 at Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao and they vowed to support his administration.
The three mayors had openly campaigned and supported other candidates for regional governor during the August 8 Armm elections.
Earlier on, Marawi City Mayer Omar "Solitario" Ali, who also supported another candidate during the August 8, 2005 regional elections, also met with Ampatuan in Manila and expressed his support to the governor.
"This is a most welcome development in our pursuit for genuine unity and reconciliation in Armm, so that we can move forward for peace and progress. Unless we, the political leaders of the Armm, are united, then we can hardly achieve our goals and aspirations for our people," Ampatuan said.
Ampatuan said the coming to Shariff Aguak voluntarily of the three mayors and their expression of support to his administration is enough ground for him to install a good working relationship with them.
That "they came and sent off also my father, Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr.", who went for Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, was also appreciated. Sending off a pilgrim is an important tradition every Muslim will always appreciate and cherish.
Samson Gogo, executive director of Armm's Bureau of Public Information, said the reconciliation is a result of the policy of the governor during his November 14, 2005 State of the Region Address (SORA) "to re-invigorate reconciliation and unification efforts" of his administration.
It will be recalled also that during his proclamation at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City on August 11, 2005, after he won landslide victory against other candidates, Ampatuan called on his opponents to set aside political differences and work together instead for the common good of the autonomous region. (Press release)
(January 10, 2006 issue)
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