Mariam Mangudadatu objects Marcos’ appointment of acting governors for Maguindanao
MANILA, Philippines — Erstwhile Maguindanao Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu has refused to take her oath as officer-in-charge of the provincial government of Maguindanao del Sur as she called upon President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider his appointment of acting governors and other officials of the Maguindanao provinces.
Mangudadatu said she and former Maguindanao vice governor Fatima Ainee Sinsuat became the governors of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, respectively, in October last year.
She further took note that they have already been performing their functions under Republic Act 11550, or the Charter of the Provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
But while Mangudadatu was appointed officer-in-charge of Maguindanao del Sur, Sinsuat was not Marcos’ choice as officer-in-charge of Maguindanao del Norte. It was Abdulraof Macacua.
“With due respect, Mr. President, I strongly object and oppose the aforesaid and oppose the alleged oathtaking because I am the duly elected governor of the said province of Maguindanao,” Mangudadatu said in a video shared on Facebook.
She then went on: “I respectfully request your good self and your good office to kindly reconsider your decision in regard to the appointment of Abdulraof Macacua as officer-in-charge of Maguindanao del Norte and other officials therein for the aforesaid reason.”
https://www.facebook.com/mariam.mangudadatu/videos/3182195382087701
Mangudadatu cited Section 9 of RA 11550, “The incumbent Representatives of the present Province of Maguindanao shall continue to represent their respective legislative districts until the expiration of their terms of office.”
Another provision of the law says that “elective officials of the newly created provinces shall be elected on the second Monday of May 2022 national and local elections.”
But should the legislation’s approval and ratification be within six months or more prior to the 2022 national and local elections, “the vice governor and the next ranking elective member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the present Province of Maguindanao, who are residents of the new Maguindanao del Norte shall assume as its acting governor and acting vice governor, respectively, and both shall continue to serve in office until their successors shall have been elected and qualified in the 2022 national and local elections.”
Meanwhile, other members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall be appointed by the chief executive but only upon the recommendation of the provincial governor and congressman “with the consensus of the local elders and political leaders.”
With this in mind, Mangudadatu said, “There is no vacant position that needs any appointment.”
“Apela namin sa inyo, mahal na President, huwag magpadala sa sulsol lalong lalo na kung wala itong basehan. Sundin natin ang batas,” she said.
(Our appeal, Mr. President, is for you not to be swayed by fomenting, especially when it has no basis. Let’s follow the law.)
Mangudadatu then urged Marcos to review RA 11550, so he won’t be “misled.”
In May 2021, Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, signed RA 11550, which splits the Maguindanao province of 36 towns into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, to be ratified in a plebiscite.
More than a year later, the Commission on Elections conducted the referendum, successfully ratifying RA 11550.
