Moro group opposes appointment of Hataman as ARMM caretaker

MANILA, Philippines—The reforms in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao might come to naught if President Aquino appoints his staunch ally Mujiv Hataman as its officer in charge, an alliance of pro-democracy Moro civil society groups said Wednesday.

Maradeka secretary-general Nash Pangadapun welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on the constitutionality of the postponement of the ARMM, and said this would “fulfill the aspirations of the people for genuine reforms that would stop the culture of impunity.”

Pangadapun, however, aired reservations to the possible appointment of Hataman as OIC to oversee reforms in the ARMM between now and the synchronized elections in May 2013.

Pangadapun said the former Anak Mindanao party-list lawmaker was perceived by the public as a “traditional politician” who had his own political baggage, and hence, does not fit the mold of a leader who is acceptable to the people, and capable of implementing reforms in the ARMM.

He said that Hataman, who was implicated in Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar’s killing from a 2007 bomb blast at the House of Representatives, has been meeting with and promising positions to erstwhile political allies of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“These traditional politicians have their own private armies. How is he going to crack down on these private armies, for instance? We don’t see any reform here,” he said in an interview.  “He’ll be busy making political accommodations instead of focusing on reforms.”

“If I were the President, I would appoint somebody who has no ‘trapo’ (traditional politician) mentality. There should be a clean slate. We won’t have a good start if the OIC has credibility problems. Besides, if he’s appointed OIC, this would be perceived as lutong macaw (charade),” he added.

Hataman had the best chance to clinch the appointment among the personalities short-listed for the key post, a Cabinet official said.

Pangadapun, also the convenor of the I Am Peace & Democracy in Mindanao (IPAD Mindanao), which is pushing for democratic electoral reforms in ARMM, said the official’s statement preempted the President’s decision.

“It really tainted the selection process with this irresponsible act,” he said.

He asked Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to disclose the selection process for the short-listed officials before Aquino makes the announcement.

“What’s important is acceptability of the process to the people. It will be hard to mobilize the people if they don’t have ownership of the process,” he said. “If we’re going to clean up ARMM, the best formula is to be transparent with the selection of its leaders.”

From the start, Hataman had been perceived as the front-runner for the key post in the ARMM partly owing to his closeness to the President.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said that whether Aquino appoints Hataman or anybody else was his call.

“We forfeit all rights to dictate on the President when we give him the power to appoint. We have to face the fact it’s the President’s call. Besides, it’s the President who is on the line here, not Mujiv. Mujiv, if he is appointed, is answerable to the President,” he said by phone.