Basilan folks endorse Assemblyman Hassan's ARMM gubernatorial bid

Basilan residents, including a senior leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and a group of Ulama, have endorsed Assemblyman Hatimil Hassan's gubernatorial bid in the upcoming August 11 ARMM elections.

"We are humbled and gratified to have earned the respect, the trust and support of our fellow Basileños," Abdurahman Tanjil, executive assistant and spokesperson of Assemblyman Hassan, said in an exlusive interview.

"The people of Basilan have endorsed Assemblyman Hassan not because he is a Yakan or native of Basilan, but they know that he will work with them to bring peace and progress in the ARMM," Tanjil added.

Brigadier General Unsong Ogong, chairman of MNLF Basilan State Revolutionary Committee, said in a letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that he is strongly endorsing Hassan for ARMM governor and as administration candidate.

Ogong furthered that they believed the MNLF vice chairman was the best choice to support the Arroyo administration as far as the regional security and socio economic development in the autonomous region are concerned.

"Hoping that Basilan could also give chance to run the ARMM because Madam President our teachers under the present administration (Governor Zaldy Ampatuan) are suffering from rendering service without salary from June to December," he said.

For Board Member Candu Muarip of Basilan, in a resolution, said they are earnestly requesting President Arroyo to anoint Assemblyman Hassan to be the administration candidate for regional governor in the forthcoming ARMM election.

He said they firmly believe that the former Speaker of the autonomous region, with his vast experience and support of other concern stakeholders both in the local and international communities will make a difference in the helm of the ARMM.

"In the interest of justice, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members are appealing that the claimor of the people of Basilan to head the regional government be heard and given utmost consideration," the resolution said.

They emphasized that different ethnic tribal groups that compose the cities and provinces in the autonomous region have already given the chance and opportunity to serve in the highest post of the regional government, except the Yakans of Basilan.

Meanwhile, the officers and members of the Ulama group based in Basilan have expressed support to the gubernatorial bid of Assemblyman Hassan, who is the most senior official of the Central Committee and vice chairman of the MNLF.

"We believe it is high time that a representative constituency of Basilan be given a chance to seat as the governor of ARMM. His (Hassan) qualification, dedication and integrity and track record may very well speak for itself."

Kapihan de Zamboanga
By Hader Glang

On a call for Muslim unity in Mindanao

"And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember the favor of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favor you became brethren; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it, thus does Allah make clear to you His communications that you may follow the right way." Holy Qur'an (3:103)

I'm sure that my brothers and sisters in Islam would agree that the verse above teaches a beautiful and valuable lesson that could benefit all of humankind if followed wholeheartedly. But sad to say there is a serious lack of unity in the Muslim community here in Mindanao. Whether it's about Moros versus Moros, or Tausugs versus Taususgs, these are problems that need to be addressed in our communities.

However, the division that ensues the Muslims is not the only issue that needs to be examined, but also the way they treat their fellow Muslims in their own communities. Misunderstandings are never solved through violence, slandering, condemning, or hating one another; they are solved when there is mutual respect and acceptance of one another.

I wonder if Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) were alive today, would he recognize the Muslim Ummah in Mindanao that we've become? The Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front remain divided since they broke up in the late 1970s while some ARMM leaders are discriminating against one another for domination in the autonomous region.

Would the Prophet allow fellow Muslims dividing one another because of political differences? Would he tolerate the way the leaders of Bangsamoro, the Tausugs, Maguindanaos, Maranaos, Yakans, Samals, and other Muslim ethnic tribes are leading their communities? Would he remain silent whenever Muslims engage in clan wars or hostilities or extremism?

The disturbing truth is that there are individuals out there who really believe that engaging conflict is actually what the Prophet would do. Their arguments are based on the fact that the Prophet engaged in battles, but the reason why this argument is weak is because they ignore how fighting in Islam is only permitted out of self-defense and for the cause of Allah, The Almighty.

I cannot help but feel like this is completely contradictory to the peaceful teachings of Islam. Is it really about who is better and who is not? Is it really about competition? Is it really about supremacy? This kind of division distracts us from larger issues that concern our community, such as improving our relationships and from learning about Islam, ourselves, and from each other.

We need to eliminate the divide that exists between Muslims - whether it's about who is the "better" Muslim or who hails from a "better" culture or civilization. It doesn't matter in the eyes of Allah, The Almighty.

God is not going to judge you differently just because you descend from a group of people who belong to royal families or rule your community; He's going to look at you as the individual. I also believe that we should speak to our fellow Muslims (and ultimately, all human beings) in a respectful and mature manner. Who are we to say that we are better when no one can ever possibly be better than Allah? Who are we to judge when that power only belongs to Allah?

I learned that member states of the influential Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) were calling at the MNLF and MILF to unite in the name of Bangsamoro people. They really wanted the two Moro political fronts "to combine their efforts to work for peace and development of the Bangsamoro people."

So why not focus on unity? Why always about political ideology when Islam is the religion that lays a great emphasis on unity? As in his farewell sermon, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared:

"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black, nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, and that Muslims constitute one brotherhood."

I therefore call. Let's start building unity in our communities. Let's stop separating ourselves. Get to know our fellow brothers and sisters in Islam. In truth, we are born with different cultures, in different provinces, but we all come from the same place, and that is from Allah, The Almighty. Is that really so hard to see?

Sulu mayors back ARMM gov re-election bid

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan received endorsements Thursday from mayors of the Province of Sulu, officials said on Saturday.

The Bureau of Public Information-ARMM (BPI-ARMM) reported that an overwhelming majority of Sulu mayors have expressed their unwavering and full support to the re-election bid of Ampatuan.

Quoting Maimbung town Mayor Mohammad Najib Maldisa of Sulu, the BPI-ARMM said the mayors' decision to support Ampatuan is sealed by their commitment to keep up with ongoing socio-economic development in the ARMM.

On Thursday, Sulu mayors attended the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in Cotabato City between the autonomous government and LGUs to facilitate the implementation of priority infrastructure projects.

Mayor Maldisa made it clear that even when the 'big if' cited by Isnaji happens, the mayors would still be solidly behind Ampatuan, according to BPI-ARMM report.

The source also said that the mayors made their announcement even after Indanan Mayor Isnaji Alvarez divulged that the central committee of the MNLF endorses his candidacy as the next Governor of ARMM.

The mayor of Indanan is currently the president of the League of Sulu Municipalities and a former interim chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) following the arrest of Nur Misuari in Malaysia.

Along with the election of Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema as its new Chairman, the MNLF has also chosen Isnaji as its official bet should the ARMM polls proceed this year in a meeting held earlier in Pagadian City.

Isnaji, however, stressed that there is a 'big if' to his candidacy, referring to the would be outcome of the ongoing OIC-GRP-MNLF tripartite talks, the BPI-ARMM report said.

He said that he still fully support Ampatuan's re-election pending the result of the tripartite meeting. "The tripartite meeting would determine if the MNLF will have its own candidate in the ARMM elections," the report said.

However, the group of Sulu mayors have voiced out their unwavering support to Ampatuan in spite of the MNLF's decision, it said.