RECONCILIATION!
Akbar, Hataman families bury the hatchet
[Isabela City, Basilan] – Basilan Governor Jum Akbar and ARMM OIC
Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman led fellow Basileños in the signing of
“A Covenant of Solidarity for Peace and Development in Basilan” at the
Basilan State College, this City.
The huge gymnasium was filled
with supporters and well-wishers 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, and according to
DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo, even throughout the Philippines, citing the
example of Abra Province in North Luzon.
“Ginusto po namin ang
reconciliation na ito, unang-una, bilang pagsunod sa utos ng ating mahal
na panginoong Allah. Pangalawa po ay para maisakatuparan na ang matagal
nang pangarap ng ating mga kapwa Basileño na magkasundo 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, Secretary Robredo, OPAPP
Secretary Teresita Deles and the four other Governors of the ARMM.
She added: “Kung katahimikan at kaunlaran po ang siyang minimithi ng
mas nakararami, handang-handa po kaming magsakripisyo at gawin ang lahat
para maisakatuparan lamang ito.”
Initial talks between the two
families started nearly six months back, with emmisaries from the
Basilan Ulama Supreme Council sent by Gov. Hataman to approach Gov.
Akbar for a possible rapprochement. A meeting was likewise held in
Malacañang 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 family members.
“We are definitely
looking forward to this new chapter in the lives of Basileños
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 delivered 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 used to be political allies, until the 2004 elections
when both families parted ways, running and fielding their own allies in
different tickets. The rivalry came to a head on November 13, 2007 when
erstwhile Akbar patriarch, Rep. Wahab Akbar, was killed by a bomb at
the Batasang Pambansa. Formal charges were subsequently filed by the
Akbar family against Mujiv Hataman, his brother Jim Hataman, who is the
current Congressman, and former Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin.
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 Benigno S. Aquino III to head the
ARMM in December 2011. Salapuddin on the other hand, was finally issued a
warrant of arrest after the Department of Justice upheld the charges
filed against him.
As a result of the “peace agreement” between
the Akbar and 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.
-Courtesy of Richard Gregorio Falcatan-
-credits to the owners of the photos-
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| Signing: Gov. Akbar and Mayor Akbar |
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| DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo and OPAPP Sec. Teresita Deles |
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| The Covenant |
I haven't witnessed the said event but I have high hopes on the said reconciliation. Basileños scream for peace. All hopes for a new beginning of this city I am proudly born, grew up, and will definitely cherish. We all look forward for the bright future of Basilan.
