GOVERNOR MUJIV S. Hataman, who has been head of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since 2011, called for support in the educational campaign and a “yes” vote for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) next year. In what he considers his final state of the region address on Wednesday, Dec. 19, he said, “Bumoto para sa mas nagkakaisa, mas makatarungan, at mas masaganang bukas. Hinihimok ko kayong nandito ngayon: Maging instrumento ng liwanag at kaalaman ukol sa BOL (Vote for a more united, just, and prosperous tomorrow. I am urging all of you who are here now: Be instruments of enlightenment and knowledge on the BOL.” Mr. Hataman, who is running for Basilan congressional representative in the May 2019 midterm elections, said he is proud of the ARMM government’s accomplishments in the last seven years, highlighting developments in infrastructure, social service delivery, and overall economic improvement. He gave special credit to former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III, who appointed him as officer-in-charge regional governor of the ARMM in 2011. “Nagtiwala siya sa ating mga Moro, na kaya nating pamunuan ang ating mga sarili, kaya nating makilahok sa pagbabago, kaya nating umasenso basta’t tama ang kundisyon (He trusted us, the Moro people, that we can lead ourselves, we can participate in change, we can progress given the right conditions),” he said. The BOL, which will create a new Bangsamoro government and territory, will be subject to a plebiscite early next year, with voting dates on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6.

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