Hataman vows reforms in ARMM

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Newly appointed caretaker Gov. Mujiv Hataman vowed to implement reforms in the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with good governance and security and peace and order topping his administration’s agenda.

Hataman said he is currently assisted by a technical working group which also backed up the Reform the ARMM Now (RAN), following the cancellation of the regional elections in Aug. 8, 2011.

Hataman said he may not be taking his entire official family from the RAN technical group that supported his reform advocacy for the ARMM and which eventually catapulted him to the region’s top post, along with Bainon Karon, a Moro women’s rights advocate.

Interior Secretary Jessie Robredo, along with Peace Secretary Teresita Deles, accompanied Hataman in his ceremonial first day in office on Thursday.

Conspicuously absent during the turnover ceremonies was outgoing ARMM Acting Regional Gov. Ansaruddin Adiong, who was represented by Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo.

Hataman said he would resume regular holding of office in January, and promised to report to office on a “daily basis, and if needed, even on weekends.”

He said he would meet with the Task Force Ranao, created three months ago, which is composed of the local units of the Philippine National Police, the military and municipal local government units.

“The meeting with TFR will determine which way we could effectively act on the problem created by persisting logging operation in the area with regards to the marching order of the President on a total log ban in the region,” Hataman said.

He said “effective immediately” he has canceled logging permits issued to three big companies in Lanao Sur. He did not name the firms, though.

Robredo said he could “assure the ARMM constituents that the region now has a working regional governor.”