ARMM mayors reject Nur plan vs plebiscite

COTABATO CITY — Most mayors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are for holding the Aug. 14 plebiscite for expanded autonomy in the Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD), dispute the stand of ARMM Gov. Nur Misuari, who is again asking for the deferment of the political exercise.

The SZOPAD area groups the 12 cities and 15 Southern provinces covered by the Sept. 2, 1996 peace pact between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front.

At least 19 of 24 mayors in the ARMM asked by The STAR have expressed similar tones in insinuating that Malacañang, in fact, had given Misuari enough time to campaign for an expanded autonomy, having been governor of ARMM since Oct. 1, 1996.

Misuari’s three-year term as ARMM governor ended September 1999, but had been extended twice in deference to the postponement, also twice, of the plebiscite on his behest.

"If we defer the plebiscite again, there will certainly be another holdover of ARMM officials. We need to give our leaders fresh mandate. The ARMM’s charter only allows a three-year term for regional officials," said a local executive, a member of the influential Islamic Tableegh organization.

Most of the ARMM’s 86 town mayors have long been at odds with Misuari over political and administrative matters.

Misuari, according to highly placed sources from the Office of the Regional Governor here, is contemplating on asking the government to defer the plebiscite to year 2004.

Members of the Council of 15, among them Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Sulu Gov. Yusoph Jikiri, unseated Misuari as their chairman last April 29, due to what they claimed as loss of trust and confidence.

The Mindanao Cross, a leading Catholic newspaper in Central Mindanao, has started encouraging residents in the region to participate in the Aug. 14 plebiscite.

The Mindanao Cross, owned by the Oblate congregation, is apprehensive of possible manipulations of the outcome of the plebiscite if residents in SZOPAD will not join the political exercise.

Most members of Sangguniang Panglungsod here are opposed to the inclusion of Cotabato City in the expanded ARMM.