Misuari sacks another ARMM secretary

COTABATO CITY — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Nur Misuari has fired another member of his Cabinet in what some sectors described as a "wanton and arbitrary dismissal" of his subordinates for their recognition of the "Council of 15" as the new central leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Various sectors in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have called on President Arroyo to intervene in the continuing dismissal of ARMM officials, worried about a possible backlash of Misuari’s move on governance.

Highly placed sources have confirmed that Misuari has sacked Hamid Wahid, regional trade and industry secretary.

Misuari earlier terminated Bai Sandra Sema and Alfatah Abubakar, regional education and science and technology secretaries, respectively, who were among top MNLF leaders who were the first to throw support behind the Council of 15.

The council, composed of pioneer members of the MNLF, including Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Sulu Gov. Yusoph Jikiri, unseated Misuari as the front’s chairman last April 29 due to what they claimed was loss of trust and confidence.

Sema, husband of the dismissed regional education secretary, said the successive dismissals have started to affect the operations of the regional government.

Wahid was stripped of his position just as the Metro Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) and the city government were preparing for next month’s 10th Mindanao Business Conference here.

Businessman Antonio Santos, chairman of the MCCCI, said they expect some 800 businessmen from all over Mindanao as well as from Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia to attend the 10th MBC.

"There is nothing we can do about these terminations of ARMM officials. As the region’s chief executive, Gov. Misuari can do anything. He can spend state funds the way he wants to spend them. He can travel anywhere he wants. He can hire and fire people just like that," Sema said.

Sema, the secretary-general of the MNLF, said ARMM insiders are apprehensive of more terminations of regional officials as more members of the front employed in different line agencies under Misuari’s office have already expressed their support for and recognition of the Council of 15.