MNLF laments Malacañang’s refusal to anoint exclusive candidate for ARMM governor

COTABATO CITY – The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is ranting about Malacañang’s rejection of its written appeal for President Arroyo to anoint one if its members as her "exclusive candidate" for governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the forthcomig August 8 regional elections.

Key officials of the MNLF have confirmed that the President has ignored the resolution they drafted early this month during a caucus in Zamboanga City, urging her to choose a qualified member of the front as the favored bet for ARMM governor of the ruling Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Highly-placed sources said key leaders of the front are now trying to unite the different factions of the MNLF, including the so-called Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) whose candidate for ARMM governor is former Regional Assemblyman Alvarez Isnaji, a province-mate of Gov. Parouk Hussin, who hails from Sulu.

There has been a realignment of political forces in the ARMM in the past 10 days, with former bitter adversaries forging alliances to boost the winning chances of their favored bets for elective positions in the 15-year-old autonomous region.

Sources in the local government department of ARMM said that about 90 percent of the local officials in the region are opposed to the proposal of Sulu Rep. Hussin Amin, a known ally of the incumbent regional governor, for the postponement of the August 8 regional electoral exercise.

A dozen mayors from vote-rich towns in Lanao del Sur and 136 barangay chairmen in the province forged a "solidarity pact" with Maguindanao’s 28 mayors during a dialogue here last week to boost their effort to block Amin’s proposed House Bill 4243, which seeks to defer anew the August 8 elections and extend the term of incumbent regional officials.

Among those present in the dialogue were Mayor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, a candidate for regional governor, and his running mate, ARMM Assemblyman Ansarudin Adiong, son of Lanao del Sur’s former governor, the late Mamintal Adiong.

The 28 mayors of Maguindanao, who all belong to Lakas-CMD, are also opposed to Hussin’s proposal.

Prominent members of the ARMM’s business community, among them Chinese traders operating in predominantly Muslim areas, are convinced that resetting the elections will only project political instability in the region still reeling from the devastation of the recent armed conflicts.

MNLF officials were quick to admit they have apprehensions about the recent fusion of major political forces in the ARMM.

"Where will our candidates get votes now? How can we win in the elections if we can’t have the support of local leaders in the region? This is something that makes us worry," a Tausog MNLF official employed at the ARMM’s executive deparment told The Star.