Sanctions eyed vs MNLF leaders supporting government bets in ARMM polls

COTABATO CITY – The leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is keen on imposing sanctions on Tausog MNLF leaders who have reportedly fused ranks with the Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) to support administration bets running for various elective posts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The ARMM, which covers Marawi City, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, will hold its fifth regional elections on Aug. 8.

Romeo Sema, head of the MNLF’s secretariat, said their central leadership starts its probe today of the reported presence of their counterparts in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi at the Lakas-CMD caucus in Zamboanga City last Sunday.

"The MNLF is governed by laws and, as such, an investigation has to be done first before our central leadership can come out with a statement on that regard," Sema told The Star in a phone interview.

Among those who have reportedly appeared at the Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City, venue of Sunday’s "unification dialogue" among mayors and provincial governors from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi was former ARMM Speaker Alvarez Isnaji, a known loyal lieutenant of jailed former Gov. Nur Misuari.

A big streamer, bearing the name of Isnaji and welcoming the arrival in Zamboanga City of the administration’s official bet for ARMM governor, Mayor Zaldy Ampatuan, was conspicuously displayed at a strategic spot in the Zamboanga City airport over the weekend.

Isnaji also had a brief meeting with Ampatuan, his running mate, Regional Assemblyman Ansarudin Adiong and Maguindanao’s provincial governor, Datu Andal Ampatuan, chairman of the Lakas-CMD in Maguindanao, at the hotel where party members from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi took turns pledging support for Ampatuan and Adiong.

The MNLF’s central leadership announced last month, after a two-day consultation in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, that all members of the front will boycott the August 8 regional elections.