MANILA (Feb. 14) -- MORE than two months after the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections, already Dr. Parouk Hussin, the newly elected governor of the region, has his hands full.
There were reports that several out-going ARMM officials embezzled state funds shortly before he assumed office. Hussin would have never ordered the remaining money in the region1s coffer frozen if there was no grain of truth about it. He also discovered that the ARMM had obligations amounting to P20 million and had only P400, 000 left in its treasury.
Just recently, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) integrees clashed with elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Jolo, Sulu. On top of that, ARMM remains to be underdeveloped. Former Governor Nur Misuari failed to make changes in the region.
But even before Dr. Hussin was installed as governor, problems were itching to get into his way. Supporters of former ARMM governor Misuari armed themselves and hostaged an entire village in Zamboanga City. Others, who are sympathetic to the former governor, are questioning the legitimacy of Hussin1s leadership.
"I think that Dr. Parouk Hussin inherited a lot of headaches and problems," said former senator Santanina Rasul during the media forum Mindanow held recently at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). "He is not yet been installed yet his problem has begun with the interpretation of that law which states that he cannot assume office until after September 2002," added Rasul.
Rasul was referring to the Republic Act 6734. It was the organic law that created the ARMM. A provision, however, in the Final (Jakarta) Peace Agreement signed in Malacañang in Sept. 2, 1996, two years before the end of term of then President Fidel V. Ramos, required the congress and the senate to come up with the amendatory law within two years calling for a plebiscite to decide the fate of the region.
Of course, no law was passed. The Upper and Lower Houses failed to come up with the amendatory law which resulted to the suspension of the ARMM elections. It1s plain and simple -- no law no elections. No elections mean Misuari will still be the region1s governor.
It was necessary to amend R.A. 6734. The people of ARMM were becoming restless. Nothing has changed since the assumption of Misuari as governor. The people are still hard up and the region, underdeveloped. Whatever happened to most of the region1s funds, Filipinos will never ever know. The ARMM office housing all the documents detailing where it went was grazed by fire.
The people got more frustrated when their elections were suspended not once nor twice but three times in a row. Besides, people are getting suspicious. They think the elections were postponed to favor Misuari.
"Looks like many of this provision being cited by many legal minds defending Nur Misuari is more on R.A. 6734," noted by Representative Gerry Sallapudin referring to the arguments raised against the legitimacy of Hussin1s leadership.
When R.A. 6734 was amended with R.A. 9054, the ballgame in ARMM shifted into a bracing gear. Misuari refused to recognize the amendment claiming that the MNLF had no participation in creating it. It didn1t come, therefore, as a shock that Misuari and his faction boycotted the election last year.
"I would like to make it clear that the intentions of the amendment was not to removed Nur," stressed Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel. "It was an attempt to accommodate the agreements and rules of the peace agreement particularly the Jakarta."
"That is why I want to emphasized that my committee went around the provincial members of ARMM as well as prospective members of ARMM," explained Pimentel. "Holding consultations, asking the people anong gusto ninyong isalin dito sa bagong batas (what do you like to add in the new law)," he continued. "The requests were varied and we meet by ways of compromise," added Pimentel.
While there were people who want Misuari to stay, there were also those who want him out including the Council of 15 Committee. Change was in the offing. Nothing, not even Misuari could stop it.
It is also important to note that there was a clause in R.A. 9150 which says that "any provision of any law that runs contrary to any portion of this law is deemed repealed," Salapuddin said.
"So meaning, if there was any provision that says that the term of office of the newly elected officials of the ARMM will be in September should be nullified," explained Salapuddin. "That is repealed in the subsequent provision of the repealing clause of the latest law," added the solon.
If what Sallapudin claimed was true, that latest law supercedes previous law then the term of office of all incumbent officials should automatically come to a halt as soon as the duly elected officials assume their offices. "The incumbent officials of the ARMM will continue to hold office until a successor shall have been elected and qualified," continued Sallapudin.
Misuari1s supporters didn1t take the issue sitting down, as we all know by now. To complicate the matter even more, Misuari announced that he is resuming his post as governor of ARMM. His renegade supporters and his civilian sympathizers await instructions while he is detained at Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Prior to his detention in Laguna, Misuari was detained in Malaysia for illegal entry after fleeing a short-lived revolt he allegedly instigated on Nov. 19 in Sulu, Jolo.
"This is really a very difficult task for Dr. Hussin as governor. It is not just because of the existing problems now. On top of that is the problem also with his MNLF comrades. They are disunited in a sense," disclosed Rasul....
Contenue reading...Source:
Philippine Information Agency
