Hussin takes over strife-torn ARMM

Parouk Hussin, a former rural doctor and rebel, was sworn in yesterday as head of the strife-torn Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), vowing to steer a different course from that of his detained predecessor Nur Misuari.

In his inaugural speech, Hussin distanced himself from Misuari, saying "the leadership (of the autonomous region) will be by example and that no one in my administration, including myself, will be exempted" from accountability.

In a tightly guarded ceremony in Cotabato City, Hussin took his oath of office before President Arroyo and representatives of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which had helped broker the peace accord between the national government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

In his speech, Hussin made no mention of Misuari, who is being detained in Malaysia for illegal entry after fleeing a short-lived revolt he allegedly instigated on Nov. 19 in Jolo, Sulu.

Misuari mounted the revolt apparently to prevent his being replaced as ARMM governor in elections on Nov. 26.

Hussin also called on foreign countries and the international donor community to provide renewed support for the autonomous region even as he promised that their assistance "will be utilized with great prudence."

"I assure you I am armed with seriousness, dedication and determination to develop this poor region," Hussin said.

This was an apparent reference to Misuari who was widely accused of abusing his power during his term as governor and squandering both government funds and economic assistance provided by foreign countries, particularly oil-rich Islamic nations.

Mrs. Arroyo said Hussin’s leadership offers new hope to ARMM, which is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the city of Marawi.

"Hussin is respected by the international community... there is an ideal leadership (in ARMM)," the President said in her weekly broadcast before the oath-taking ceremonies.

Mrs. Arroyo said the government will provide P750 million to the ARMM to jumpstart its development programs, with the region expected to get additional funding from international donor agencies like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

"The USAID has prepared $55 million, and the first $20 million is ready to be released as soon as possible and the World Bank is preparing $45 million and the first $15 million is being prepared in time for the takeover of Governor Hussin," she said.

Hussin later told reporters that an audit after Misuari’s departure discovered that the autonomous region had only P400,000 in its treasury and had obligations of close to P22 million.

In fact, phone lines at the Office of the Regional Governor have been disconnected since early December due to unpaid bills.

"My administration does not intend to find fault or blame anyone. There is simply no time for that. But certainly, I must have to face the realities," Hussin said.

Misuari, who was then chairman of the MNLF , was installed as governor of the ARMM as part of the OIC-brokered peace accord with the government in September 1996.

Creating the ARMM was intended to give a measure of self-rule to the Muslim-dominated regions in Mindanao which are among the poorest parts of the largely Christian nation and which have been wracked by decades of fighting between the government and Muslim armed groups.

But allegations of Misuari’s poor governance prompted the MNLF council, including Hussin, to strip Misuari of his leadership of the MNLF earlier this year and prompted the Arroyo administration to endorse Hussin’s candidacy in the ARMM elections.

At a press forum before he was sworn in, Hussin said he preferred that Misuari stay out of the country but that it was up to Manila to decide. The government wants to repatriate him later this month to face trial for rebellion.

Hussin said most of the Misuari loyalists who took part in his revolt had realized their mistake and rejoined the mainstream of the MNLF.

"We have them on our side already," he said.

Hussin also said he would support any peace agreement that the government would forge with an MNLF breakaway group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is still seeking to set up an independent state in Mindanao but which also signed a ceasefire and opened peace talks with the national government last year.