MNLF leadership choosing election bets

COTABATO CITY — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Nur Misuari is not in the list of prospective bets of the "Council of 15," the new central leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), for various positions in the expanded region’s November elections.

The council, which includes Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Sulu Gov. Yusoph Jikiri, has initiated an extensive selection process to determine who among MNLF leaders can be anointed to run for the region’s gubernatorial, vice gubernatorial and legislative seats.

The Regional Legislative Assembly has 21 members, but will subsequently have six additional slots with the inclusion of Basilan (except Isabela City) and Marawi City in the expanded autonomous set-up.

The ARMM at present covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Sema, chairman of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development, said they have to consult the MNLF’s 16 state chairmen to ensure a fair selection of candidates for the November elections.

"The council will also initiate consultations with various sectors in areas covered by the new set-up to get a real feel of who among the prospective MNLF candidates really enjoy the support of the people," Sema said.

The MNLF’s 16 state chairmen earlier endorsed Sema to run for governor of the expanded autonomous region. But residents of Cotabato City, where he is the incumbent mayor, voted against the city’s inclusion in the expanded set-up during the Aug. 14 plebiscite.

Under the amended ARMM charter, only residents of areas covered by the expanded region can run for elective positions.

Alfatah Abubakar, spokesman of the Council of 15, said it is likely that key MNLF leaders in the region will hold caucuses to choose their gubernatorial nominees.

"Unlike the previous MNLF leadership, the Council of 15 strictly adheres to the principles of consensus- building. It does not decide on its own," Abubakar said.

Sema said the council will consider the possible participation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the region’s forthcoming elections.

"If our brothers in the MILF decide to run for various elective positions, the MNLF is ready for a power-sharing scheme to ensure equitable representation of all sectors in the regional government," he said.