Pres. Arroyo & Speaker De Venecia appoint Governor Ampatuan as Lakas-CMD party chairman for ARMM

REGIONAL Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has been designated Regional Chairman of the Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats Party for the ARMM.

The designation of Gov. Ampatuan was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as party chairperson and Speaker Jose De Venecia as party president. The effectivity of the designation is retroactive to January of 2006.

“In accordance with existing rules and authority vested upon us by the Party, you are hereby designated as Regional Chairman for ARMM. By virtue thereof, you are authorized and mandated to exercise the prerogatives of your office to ensure the consolidation, unification and strengthening of the Party in pursuit of its Christian – Muslim Democratic ideology and its proper role in advancing the welfare, interests and nationhood of the Filipino people,” the designation said.

Governor Ampatuan thanks President Arroyo, Speaker De Venecia and the entire leadership of the Lakas-CMD for the trust and confidence given him, even as he vowed to exert all possible efforts to promote the interest of the Party and the Filipino nation.

“I am so thankful to Her Excellency Madame President Arroyo, Hon. Speaker De Venecia and the entire leadership of the Lakas-CMD for their trust and confidence. I assure them that with this new responsibility given to me, I will do all I can to push for the interest and welfare of the Party in particular and the Filipino people in general.

Regional Gov. Ampatuan, son of Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr., was the official candidate of the Lakas-CMD during the August 8, 2005 ARMM regional elections. He won overwhelmingly over other candidates, some of whom were former ARMM Governor Dr. Parouk Hussin, former ARMM Vice Governor Mahid Mutilan and businessman Ibrahim “Toto” Paglas due to the massive support of the people and many local government officials in the region.

Gov. Ampatuan believes that it will not difficult for him to consolidate and unify the Party in the region considering that at least 95 percent of the more than 80 municipal mayors and all the five provincial governors and Marawi City mayor and other local officials are supportive to his administration in ARMM.

“With the support of my party mates in the region and our constituents, I am confident that we can easily consolidate, unify and strengthen the Lakas-CMD in ARMM,” he said. (BPI-ARMM)