ARMM speakership row settled

COTABATO CITY — All’s well that ends well.

Two feuding members of the 24-seat Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao agreed the other day to peacefully settle their squabble over the speakership of the region’s "little Congress."

Speaker Ibrahim Ibay, who hails from the second district of Maguindanao, informed Assemblyman Ismael Abubakar of Tawi-Tawi that he would allow a peaceful transition in the leadership of the 24-man RLA only if the local court would lift "for good" its order for Abubakar to desist from functioning as Speaker until June 1.

Abubakar, backed by 12 assemblymen, assumed as Speaker early this month in an unannounced session where they declared the speakership as vacant and subsequently, installed him to the post.

Ibay’s bloc opposed Abubakar’s move and questioned the propriety of the leadership change in court, which, in turn, restrained Abubakar from functioning as Speaker.

Ibay has personally assured Abubakar that he is ready to relinquish his post if the assembly’s majority would elect the Tawi-Tawi assemblyman as Speaker.

"But in the meantime that there is a court order affirming my speakership of the assembly, I will have to function as Speaker until the court will reverse that order," Ibay said.

Ibay, who will complete his three-term, nine-year stint as ARMM assemblyman next year, said he has nothing personal against Abubakar and that the animosity between their camps is purely political.

Sources from Abubakar’s camp said he is willing to "patiently wait" for the June 1 termination of the court’s restraining order.

Ibay’s gesture has earned praises from several sectors in the region, including officials of the ARMM’s Department of the Interior and Local Government.