Paglas pledges to help Hussin’s peace initiatives in ARMM

COTABATO CITY — In a gesture so unlikely of a traditional Muslim politician, Datu Ibrahim Paglas, who contested the bid of governor-elect Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, has pledged to help the former carry out back-channel peace initiatives with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

But Paglas, scion of an influential Maguindanaoan political clan, said he will still aspire for the ARMM’s governorship in the 2004 elections.

Paglas is a nephew of the MILF’s reclusive leader, Hashim Salamat, an Egyptian-trained Islamic theologian.

Paglas said he is ready to act as Hussin’s "conduit" to his uncle in furthering low-level peace initiatives that can complement and enhance President Arroyo’s peace overture with the MILF.

"I will also help, without expecting anything in exchange, in the socio-economic thrusts of Gov. Hussin for the ARMM," he said.

Muslim religious leaders in Maguindanao said Paglas’ gesture, never before done by any traditional Muslim politician in contemporary history, is a sign that there have been improvements in Muslim politics, which is traditionally confrontational and characterized by bloodshed and prolonged animosity among rival quarters.

"This is exactly the opposite of the attitude of hardened Muslim politicians who maintain private armies and keep so many firearms just to perpetuate power," said Ustadz Omar Kadir, a Muslim missionary in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

"I harbor no bitter feelings toward my brother, Gov. Hussin, the newly elected governor of the ARMM," said Paglas, a former mayor of his Datu Paglas hometown, now Maguindanao’s agricultural hub which has generated $67 million in investments in the past five years.

Paglas said that while he is convinced that the administration had cheated during the ARMM’s Nov. 26 polls, he will see to it that this issue will not in anyway drive a wedge between his supporters and those who backed Hussin, who ran under the banner of Lakas-NUCD.

"For after all, politics is winning now to lose later, or losing now to savor the sweetness of victory later. What is important is that we remain as brothers, ready to accept defeat, patching up our differences and thriving in peace," he said.