ARMM gov urges peaceful, clean village polls

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman called for the conduct of peaceful and honest elections in the region’s 2,490 villages on May 14.

“(The ARMM government) calls on everyone to stay true to the vision of meaningful and relevant governance by engaging in a campaign that exemplifies the values of the communities they represent,” Hataman, said in a statement on Thursday.

“We call for honest and peaceful barangay elections, one that respects the rights and freedom of the voters, especially their right to choose leaders who will represent them and their interests in the affairs of government,” he added.

Hataman said the barangay elections should be “an affair of the people in whose hands power truly resides, and and not of traditional politicians who seek to forward personal vested interests instead of the voice of the people.” JULIE ALIPALA