ARMM POLITICS

ARMM election campaign begins

ALLIES ---- Mayor Datu Norodin Matalam of Pagalungan, Maguindanao (left) show his being a staunch political supporter of re-electionist Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan by raising the governor's hand after a peace and unity dialogue of all mayors from Shariff Kabunsuan and Maguindanao Tuesday in Ampatuan's hometown, Shariff Aguak, where Matalam had sworn to campaign for the re-electionist governor in his municipality, even if his older brother, former ARMM Vice Gov. Guimid Matalam, is also aspiring for the gubernatorial post of ARMM during the area's August 11, 2008 elections. Dozens of relatives of another contender for the same post, controversial Indanan, Sulu Mayor Isnaji Alvarez of the Moro National Liberation Front, now jailed in Camp Crame in connection with his alleged involvement in the recent kidnapping of ABS-CBN anchor Ces Drilon and her three companions, have also pledged support to Ampatuan's bid for a second term, ignoring Isnaji's colossal ambition to become chief executive of the autonomous region.

President Arroyo’s candidates for various positions in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao today started with their campaign, but only with a dialogue on the Southern peace process, sans the traditional merry-making voters have witnessed in past regional political sorties.

Engineer Norie Unas, regional secretariat of the Lakas-Muslim, Christian Democrats for the autonomous region, said they decided to “fire a very simple salvo” of their campaign maneuver since mayors and provincial governors in the ARMM have promised to campaign for re-electionist Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan in their respective towns.

Ampatuan and his running mate, re-electionist Vice Gov. Ansarudin Adiong, are both seeking second terms under the banner of Lakas-CMD, with President Arroyo’s blessing.

All of the more than a hundred mayors and six provincial governors in the autonomous region belong to the Lakas-CMD and are known for what seems to be “canine loyalty” to President Arroyo and the 40-year-old Ampatuan.

Mayors from Shariff Kabunsuan and Maguindanao, during their dialogue today in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao’s provincial capital, took turns assuring Ampatuan and Adiong they will both defeat their contenders for the positions they aspire in lopsided victories.

Ampatuan is facing six contenders, among them Alvarez Isnaji, the controversial mayor of Indanan, Sulu.

Apart from Adiong, five others have also filed certificates for of candidacy for the ARMM’s vice gubernatorial post.

Lawyer Oscar Sampulna, executive secretary of ARMM, said today’s launching of the regional campaign by the administration’s Lakas-Muslim Christian Democrats, whose national chairperson is President Arroyo, focused lengthily on how the mayors and provincial governors can help the Commission on Elections administer “HOPE,” meaning honest, orderly and peaceful elections, in the autonomous region.

“Similar dialogues will also be initiated soon by the regional chapter of Lakas-CMD in other provinces of ARMM,” Sampulna said.