Cotabato
City - Some of the top leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front
have denied having to do with the recent allegedly signed resolution by
several of its members that endorses to President Benigno Aquino, III,
their choice candidate for regional governor in the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao elections.
In an online press release, the MNLF leaders who are mostly top commanders of the Central Committee claimed to have the support and command of the mass base MNLF in Mindanao.
"In view of the recent published report in media that some so called MNLF commanders endorsing certain personality to run for regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the forth coming May 12, 2012 as candidate to be, supposed by the MNLF, the MNLF leadership would like to clarify that many of the senior MNLF leaders mentioned in the resolution were not present in the meeting and did not signed the said document," they said in the same release.
The MNLF cannot endorse any personality without following the proper procedure being observed by the front and that it should conform with previous arrangements made with key players of GRP and the OIC, the spokesperson of the group said.
That the idea of holding the ARMM election synchronized with the midterm national and local elections and its eventual postponement last year was thru the suggestion and recommendation of the MNLF panel during the MNLF-GRP-OIC PCSP meeting in Surabaya, Indonesia in June 2012.
Among those who were not physically present and did not actually sign the resolution were Sharif Hamid Juhuri, F2, Chairman, Southern Palawan State Revolutionary, National Striking Force and Commander Sibli Tiblani, F2, Gommader of the MNLF Bangsamoro Armed Forces, the PR said.
In reaction to the just concluded MNLF Grand Meeting which included them as a party to the stand of the other MNLF, the leaders claiming themselves as the legitimate and true bonafide members of the front pointed out that their names were mentioned but they were not in attendance and that have not signed the document.
The grand meeting was spearheaded by the MNLF Junior Cadre Officers Corps who presented the resolution to the President in Malacang.
According to the MNLF top leaders, the MNLF is not supposed to be politicized. That organizers of the said meeting last Sept. 6, 2012 held at the Orchids Hotel in Zamboanga should have not endorsed any personality and use the names of their fellow brothers without proper consultation or consensus.
"If in case they have endorsed any political personality, it must be a personal or individual decision and not reflective of the official stand and decision of the entire front, which we highly respect," the top leaders clarified.
However, instead of the endorsement made by the MNLF Junior Cadre-sponsored meeting, the legitimate MNLF top leaders had endorsed its top MNLF brass based on what has been agreed in a meeting with government representatives in Indonesia early this year, the spokesperson emphasized.
"On the basis of the GRP-MNLF Statement of Understanding signed in Solo City, Indonesia last February 29- March 2, 2012 to help in reforming the ARMM governance, the MNLF leadership has endorsed Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari, Haj. Hatimil Hassan and to Cotabato Vice-Mayor Muslimin Sema to run for regional governor of the ARMM. That the MNLF will accept any of the above names to be chosen by President Benigno Aquino, III as his candidate for Regional Governor in the May 2013 elections," the leaders said.
The MNLF Leadership also has recommended the incumbent OIC Vice-regional Governor Haj. Bainon Karon as Vice-Regional Governor-candidate for the May 2012 elections. Karon is concurrently the ARMM-DSWD Regional Cabinet Secretary.
The MNLF Leadership has forwarded their recommendation to Chairman of the Peace Committee for Southern Philippine (PCSP) of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) with furnished copy to the Secretary of OPAP and Secretary General.
Earlier, there were published news reports that some organizations aside from MNLF and some members of RLA had endorsed certain personality to run for regional governor for ARMM.
However, these endorsements were also debunked by their other members just like the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, which has denied endorsing certain candidates as its favored bet for regional governor and vice regional governor in next year elections.
However, these endorsements were also debunked by their other members just like the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, which has denied endorsing certain candidates as its favored bet for regional governor and vice regional governor in next year elections.
Speaker Rasol Mitmug, Jr. said the secretary-general of the RLA, Mama Ampatuan, and the Assembly's chief of plenary affairs, Engineer Jaime Ayub, issued on Monday a written denial on the law-making body's alleged political endorsements.
"It could be possible that some members of the Assembly endorsed certain politicians, but the endorsements, certainly, were done in their individual private capacities," Mitmug said adding that the law-making body, as a collegiality boy did not officially endorse anyone. as its has sets of rules to follow in preparation and approval of any resolution in endorsing a person," according to Mitmug.(DS)