ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The election for the top post in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) heated up as reelectionist governor Mujiv Hataman accused his rival of being a “local political warlord.”
“The people of Sulu are victims of neglect by a local political warlord that ruled the province for decades now,” Hataman said in his sortie in Sulu last Sunday.
READ: ELECTION 2016: AGENDA OF THE ARMM GOVERNOR
Hataman was apparently referring to Sulu vice-governor and rival Abdusakur Tan whom he alleged has “failed to solve the woes of the province despite being at the helm of the local government for many years.”
The governor said the residents of Sulu continue to be “gripped by poverty and lack of security” even after Tan ruled over the province for decades.
Hataman added that the poverty incidence in Sulu has reached record high with 61.8 percent in 2015 from 30.3 percent in 2012.
“For many years, if the life of the people even changed, it changed for the worse, aggravated by a local politician’s greed for money, control and power,” Hataman said.
The governor said Sulu is lagging behind compared to neighboring provinces like Tawi-Tawi, which halved its poverty incidence in three years, and Basilan, which has now a poverty incidence of 30.7 percent from 32.5 percent.
“Sulu has remained to be the playing ground of criminals and kidnap-for-ransom groups and terrorists,” Hataman said adding that this is one of the reasons why development is snail-paced in the province.
“These are realities of Sulu, the realities of the people—and the reality of failed governance,” Hataman said.
Hataman urged the people to ponder on the situation before casting their votes.
“My challenge to you is this—if you think Tan has done something to better your lives and he has brought development and peace in Sulu, you have the freedom to vote for him,” Hataman said. RAM