By Jong Cadion
Isabela City, Basilan – Finally the peace and development will come true in the island province of Basilan following the singing of peace covenant between the two warring families yesterday May 5, 2012.
Governor Jum Akbar and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) OIC Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman led more than 5,000 Basilenos in the signing of “A Covenant of Solidarity for Peace and Development in Basilan” conducted in the Basilan State College, here.
The huge gymnasium filled to the rafters as two of the most powerful political families in Basilan finally came together to forge an alliance “for peace and development” that is now being dubbed as “the Basilan Model “, worthy to be emulated throughout the rest of the ARMM.
Gusto po namin and reconciliation na ito, unang una bilang pagsunod sa utos ng ating mahal na panginoong Allah. Panglawa po ay para maisakatuparan na ang matagal nang pangarap ng ating mga kapwa Basileno na makagsundo na ang dalawang pamilyang ito.” Gov.Jum Akbar, matriarch of the Akbar clan, summed up the sentiments of her family in an emotional message before the assembled crowd, which included, among others, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, OPPAP Secretary Teresita Deles and the four other Governors of the ARMM.
She added “Kung katahimikan at kaunlaran po ang minimithi ng mas nakakarami, handing handa po kaming gawin ang lahat para maisakatuparan lamang ito.”
The initial talks between the two families started nearly six months back, with emissaries from the Basilan Ulama Supreme Council sent by Gov.Hataman to approach Gov. Akbar for a possible rapprochement. A meeting was likewise held in Malacanang with no less than President Benigno Aquino III manifesting his desire for the two families to finally come to terms with each other. A series of consultations ensued on both sides, as the clan leaders reached out to the family members.
“We are definitely looking forward to this new chapter in the lives of Basilenos everywhere.” Basilan Ulama Secretary General and Provincial Board Member Yusop Alano said. “We should all welcome this new alignment, as this will surely bring peace and development to Basilan.
In a message on behalf of the League of Mayors, Chapter President Alih Sali, Mayor of Akbar Municipality, added” as much as we wished to stay loyal to our political alliances, we prayed very hard for a reconciliation between and among our leaders.”
The Akbar and Hataman families ran against each other once more in the 2010 elections. Governor Jum Akbar, widow of the late Congressman, won the election, defeating both Mujiv Hataman and Salapuddin. Hataman was subsequently appointed by President Aquino to head the ARMM in December 2011.Salapuddin on the other hand, was finally issued a warrant of the arrest after the Department of Justice upheld the charges filed against him.
As a result of the peace agreement between the Akbar and The Hataman families, the charges filed in court against both Mujiv and Jim Hataman were summarily dropped by the Akbar family. This will likewise open the possibility for Gov. Akbar to join the administration’s Liberal party, especially in the run up to the 2013 polls, and for the two families to field a unified ticket.
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