3 Nur aides take over as OIC-governor

COTABATO CITY- Three subordinates of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Nur Misuari — two of them incumbent regional officials and the other still awaiting the election results in the second congressional district of Maguindanao — have separately assumed as ARMM officer-in-charge (OIC), each claiming to have been designated by Misuari who has been hopping from one country to another since last month.

ARMM insiders confirmed that before leaving for abroad, Misuari installed his natural resources secretary, Faisal Karon, as caretaker of the regional government.

But Karon’s supposed assumption has reportedly been "overtaken" by recent developments in the Moro National Liberation Front, whose key officials now recognize the so-called "Council of 15" as the new central leadership, after it unseated Misuari as chairman shortly before he left for abroad.

Alvarez Isnaji, the speaker of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, has also assumed as OIC-governor.

Isnaji’s stewardship of the regional government, according to technical staffers of the 21-member assembly, is premised on provisions of the Organic Act for Muslim Mindanao (Republic Act 6734).

Under RA 6734, the regional vice governor will assume outright as OIC in the governor’s absence. But Datu Guimid Matalam resigned as vice governor after he filed his candidacy for congressman in the second district of Maguindanao last February.

Surprisingly though, Matalam surfaced last week and announced that he, too, will be discharging the functions of regional governor on an OIC basis.