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