Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman is waiting. He is reportedly being considered by President Benigno Aquino to serve as officer in charge (OIC) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who would be implementing reforms that the the administration are pushing for. When his appointment of ARMM caretaker indeed materializes, the 38-year-old Hataman vows to correct 21 years of wrongdoing in the predominantly Muslim region in 21 months. He recently sat down with the Inquirer Mindanao correspondents for an interview. Excerpts:
Question: If you were appointed ARMM officer in charge, what would you do?
Answer: There would be three major components:
Governance. What are the deliverables? We can minimize, if not eradicate corruption, through transparent and accountable governance. How? In fact, we have been thinking with certain people and personalities and CSOs (civil society organizations) on how can this be done. Corruption can only be solved if we have a very transparent governance.
This is a long process. But I can promise that in the level of the regional government, transparency can be implemented on all levels of the regional government. If we can show them an example on how a government is supposed to be run, they will be ashamed to continue with what they used to do. Our approach would be leadership by example. Later, we will decide on forcing them to follow …
All offices and units of the regional government must be made functional. We will order the RLA (Regional Legislative Assembly) to come up with relevant legislations—not only dividing and naming of places. They have to come up with appropriate and relevant legislations.
Peace and security. The peace process is something that is supposed to be the business of the national government. It is more of a political question. But let us provide all the necessary conditions that will help fast-track the issue of peace. Issues on kidnapping are at the level of the regional government. In 21 months, a policy is needed to contain the proliferation of firearms.
Socioeconomic development. A roadmap is being processed—it will involve actively the CSOs and the LGUs (local government units)—to collate the development agenda of all sectors and the plans of the LGUs. The active participation of media is needed. The creation of a good perception is needed, while the government is doing its thing. We have agreed with the CSOs that they will remain critical of the government, that they will express whatever shortcomings. Let us end the time when people are scared to express their disgust over the government. I believe that through open and democratic exchanges and critiques can we solve the problems.
But right now, we are not in the level of OIC. What I am saying is when I would be elected as governor—if the election pushes through.
Q: Have you heard anything from the President or any Cabinet official since your name surfaced as the supposed OIC?
A: The appointment committee is yet to be formed. After that, another consultative process is to be done, of which we are advocating. The difference is that if it were the election, I am very sure that I would be the person who will be anointed as official candidate of the administration. But the election was postponed.
Q: Would audit be your priority, too, in light of the allegations of unnecessary spending and corruption?
A: Even without me there, I know that audit is ongoing. The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the President are conducting it under a special audit. They are still in the level of the ARMM, but I am sure that this will encompass … that’s how serious he is.
Q: What is the pulse of the grassroots on this? On the synchronization? One of the issues that cropped up was that it was dictated by the national government, by Manila?
A: I agree that in reality, ARMM is dictated by Manila. No one won in the ARMM before without the anointment of the Palace. The grassroots want the process of putting leaders in ARMM to be democratized. Not specifically on the issue of synchronization because we were not given the chance to thoroughly explain synchronization to them, but for us, it is part of the solution to their desire to democratize the process.
Q: Would you run after alleged corrupt officials of the ARMM who made themselves rich courtesy of people’s money? (Former) officials like the Ampatuans?
A: Even without me there, the President will run after these officials … but yes, we will do that. We will not only show off but show sincerity and seriousness in effecting reforms, regardless of who we will be running through with. The Ampatuans are already in jail, but the Ampatuan style remains to be there …
Q: What do you intend to do with the issue of ghost barangays and questionable voters?
A: General registration of voters. We will request it from the Commission on Elections. That is beyond the powers of the ARMM government. But that is one of the major reforms that we will push and we ask the help of the President … what we want is not only a simple computerized election but we will let go of these ghost towns, ghosts barangays, ghost precincts (as well).
Q: Once appointed, are you running again?
A: I am more happy as a konggresista. Between governor of the ARMM or congressman, I’d rather that I am a congressman because it’s good to be a fiscalizer, especially if you have an advocacy.
The President does not want his anointed person to run as governor (in 2013) because naturally, if you will be running, the focus of the OIC is politics. He will devote all his efforts on building his name. Paporma and papogi. And you will fail to implement reforms because you will play along with local leaders.
But let us cross the bridge when we get there.
Q: Can you run again?
A: The proposed bill in the Lower House says you cannot run. That was questioned in the Senate. That was deleted.
Q: What kind of a leader does ARMM need?
A: He or she has to have courage, should be reform-oriented. Hindi kayang takutin. Committed not to run. Mahirap kasi mag-effect ng reform if the OIC governor is gearing to run in the elections.
Q: On loose firearms, private armies and Abu Sayyaf…
A: The anti-Abu Sayyaf operation is continuing. I came from the government and as a street parliamentarian, we have to build the base of the government but make sure that the anti-Abu campaign would not be against the Moro people. The campaign against the Abu Sayyaf is against terrorists and not against the Muslims. We will help on this.
On loose firearms, there has to be an inventory. This is a mechanism that has to be studied by the ARMM government and the national government. We have to know the extent of the presence of unregistered, undocumented firearms in the ARMM. For me, if it is illegal, then it must be confiscated.
On private armies, the government is also dismantling them now. But there has to be a muscle. The government must be serious.
What needed to be prioritized is the inventory of loose firearms. I will offer a mechanism which I will make public if I am already there. Then contain the movement of the firearms.
Q: Would you promote a total gun ban in the ARMM?
A: Regulate the (use of) firearms, not ban. It has to be recognized that people are arming because they want to protect themselves. That is something that must be addressed.
Q: On rido (clan feud)?
A: This is a matter of engaging them. If the government is functional, rido can be addressed easily. ’Di kasi nakikialam ang government.
Q: On the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its firearms…
A: The MILF is something that is a concern for the national government, especially that there is an ongoing peace negotiation. But we can help provide the condition that will fast-track the peace process.
Q: Are you going to include your relatives who have loose firearms?
A: Yes. Kung ano ang gagawin ko sa iba, gagawin ko sa pamilya ko. I have relatives na warlords at nagri-rido, kung ano ang batas para sa iba, batas ’yan para sa sarili ko.