ARMM execs vow to curb corruption, illegal drugs

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Moro leaders on Tuesday assured Malacañang to cooperate in enforcing its “Masa Masid” program meant to eradicate corruption in the government and the country’s drug problem.

The implementation of the Masa Masid, or “Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga” in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was launched on Tuesday at the ARMM regional capitol in Cotabato City.

The activity was led by Roosque Calacat, assistant secretary for barangay affairs and community development in the central office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The event, held at the ARMM’s Shariff Kabunsuan auditorium, was attended by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and elected officials in the region’s five provinces, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

In a message, Hataman, chairman of the inter-agency regional peace and order council, assured Calacat to support the implementation of the Masa Masid in the autonomous region.

Also present in the event were officials of the Police Regional Office-ARMM and secretaries of different ARMM line agencies and directors of support offices.

Functions and powers of the DILG were devolved to the ARMM regional government based on the region’s charter, the Republic Act 9054.

The regional government has an executive department operating under the Office of the Regional Governor and a separate 24-member Regional Assembly, touted as “Little Malacañang” of ARMM.

Hataman said his regional local government secretary, lawyer Kirby Abdullah, will oversee the implementation of the Masa Masid in the autonomous region.

Provincial officials and mayors from across ARMM pledged to support the Masa Masid.

Among the local executives present in the launching of the Masa Masid in ARMM was Mayor Freddie Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu town in Maguindanao, president of the league of mayors in the province.