Ex-congressman Hataman nixes ARMM OIC endorsement

MANILA, Philippines—Former Anak Mindanao party-list Representative Mujiv Hataman denied reports that President Benigno Aquino III had endorsed him as officer-in-charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“I am sincerely grateful for all statements of support. However, I’d would like to make a clarification on the Inquirer news stating that the President is endorsing me as ARMM OIC,” Hataman said in a text message to reporters on Thursday.

“To this day, we are not aware of any such endorsement,” he said.

Hataman was reacting to the statement of Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu that he and four other governors of ARMM were summoned by President Aquino last May 30 to discuss the former congressman’s possible appointment.

“What the governors may be referring to in the story is the meeting they accordingly had with the President before the passage of the synchronization bill. If there was any endorsement made at that time, it must have been within the context of an election scenario,” said Hataman.

The bill he was referring to was the approved measure by Congress postponing this year’s ARMM election to 2013.

But the approved bill has yet to be signed into law by the President.

“With the passage of the synchronization bill, we reiterate our position that selection for ARMM-OIC must go through a search and consultative process,” Hataman added.