Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman. FILE PHOTO
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Basilan Rep, Mujiv Hataman is supporting the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo, believing that she is their “best chance” to prevent the return of the family that persecuted the Moro people.
Hataman did not mention any names but he reminded fellow Moros that the dictatorship was a dark era for them as they were either tortured, killed, or massacred – which pushed them to take up arms to defend themselves.
“Ipapaalala ko rin: Madilim na kabanata ang diktadurya, lalo na para sa ating mga Moro. Maraming pinaslang at pinahirapan. Minasaker tayo. Maraming napilitang pumulot ng armas sa ngalan ng katarungan; maraming napilitang lumikas sa mga tahanan,” the deputy speaker said in a statement.
(I just want to remind everyone: The era of the dictator was a dark one, especially for the Moro people. Many were killed, tortured, or massacred, which forced people to pick up arms to fight for justice and eventually leave their homes.)
“Tutol ako sa pagbabalik sa kapangyarihan ng angkan na nagpasimuno at nakinabang sa pang-aaping ito […] Si Leni Robredo ang best chance natin para pigilan ito,” he added.
(I am against the return to power of the clan that perpetrated and took advantage of the repression of the Moro people. Leni Robredo is our best chance to stop all of this.)
Robredo, for the second time, is running against Bongbong Marcos, son and namesake of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who ruled for two decades and imposed brutal martial law in the country.
Their first face-off was during the 2016 vice presidential race – Robredo beat Marcos Jr.
Hataman further pointed out Robredo’s capability to lead the country and continue the peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as well as bring development in the region.
“Pinakamahalaga: Sa lahat ng kandidato, si Leni Robredo ang best chance ng Bangsamoro magtuloy-tuloy ang kapayapaan na tinatamasa natin ngayon. Kilala ko siya. Alam ko ang puso niya. Tiyak kong ipaglalaban niya ang pangarap nating makatarungan, maunlad, at makataong Bangsamoro,” he said.
(Most importantly: among all the candidates, Leni Robredo also has the best chance to help maintain the peace that Bangsamoro is experiencing now. I know her personally. I know where her heart is. I am sure that she will fight for the future we want: a just, prosperous, and humane Bangsamoro.)
“Ang pakikisama ni Leni Robredo, hindi lang salita, hindi lang photo op, hindi lang papeles o proyekto, kundi harapang pakikitungo. Alam niya ang ating kuwento dahil pag may gulo, sakuna, o anumang isyu, agad-agad siyang pumupunta, tumatapak sa ground zero, nagpapabalik-balik– hindi para manligaw ng boto, pero para direktang mag-abot ng tulong at makinig sa ating kuwento,” he added.
(Leni Robredo’s camaraderie is not mere talk, photo op, on paper or project, but a person-to-person exchange. She knows our story because if there are problems, conflicts, emergencies, or any other issue, she immediately goes, treading on ground zero, back-and-forth – not to court votes but to directly extend help and listen to our stories.)
Hataman likewise expressed certainty that Robredo understands the plight of the Moro people, who have been affected by decades of conflict between groups that sprouted in protest of the dictatorship.
“Naiintindihan niya tayo; naiintindihan niya ang ating kasaysayan at ang ating karanasan. At dahil dito, naiintindihan din niya ang mga isyung kaharap natin sa kasalukuyan, at ang mga solusyon dito,” he said.
(She understands us, she understands our history and experience. And because of this, she also understands the issue that we are facing right now, and the solutions to this.)
“Hindi bala, hindi lang pondo, kundi ang pagtutok sa bawat aspekto ng ating lipunan: Edukasyon, kalusugan, kabuhayan, paglunas sa kahirapan, reporma sa pamahalaan. Pagtrato sa atin nang may dignidad. Pagtrato sa atin hindi bilang mas mababang tao, kundi bilang kapwa Pilipino,” he added.
(Not bullets, not just funds, but giving focus on each aspect of our society: education, health, livelihood, ending poverty, reforming the government. Treating people with dignity. Treating people, not as inferior humans, but as fellow Filipinos.)
Hataman, the former governor of the BARMM’s precursor, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, has been a long-time ally of the opposition.
Robredo is expected to be in Basilan by Wednesday night for the People’s Rally in Isabela City, where members of her slate including vice-presidential candidate Senator Francis Pangilinan are expected to attend.
READ: Basilan all set for Leni-Kiko rally; organizers expect 40,000
Hataman’s endorsement of Robredo may help her chances in Mindanao, especially as a recent survey from Pulse Asia showed that only five percent of adult respondents from Mindanao would vote for her if the election was held between February 18-23.
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