Police tighten security in Lanao Sur

COTABATO CITY — The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police has tightened security in Lanao del Sur to forestall any violence that may erupt as 25 of the province’s 40 mayors file tomorrow a recall petition against Gov. Bashier Manalao.

The recall move is the first-ever in the history of the 45-year-old Lanao del Sur, a politically turbulent province where many political leaders are closely related to one another and maintain stockpiles of military-type firearms as status symbol and to perpetuate power.

Senior Superintendent Akmad Mamalinta, ARMM police director, said the heightened alert is part of their measures to stave off any violence following the filing of the recall petition.

"We are not taking sides. What we want is peace in the province. We don’t want any trouble there as a result of this move by certain mayors," Mamalinta said.

The 25 mayors have gathered more than 30,000 signatures, about 15 percent of the total number of registered voters in Lanao del Sur.

Sources in the ARMM’s Department of the Interior and Local Government said the recall proponents have lost trust and confidence in Manalao’s leadership and want a change in the governorship through a legitimate process.

"We have nothing personal against Gov. Manalao. We are only fighting for good governance in the province," said Mayor Mino Arimao of Masiu, a hinterland town in the first district of Lanao del Sur.

Last year, the provincial board filed various graft cases against Manalao, also known as "Mustaqbal," who is a foreign-trained missionary.

Two of the mayors helping finalize the recall petition said more than a hundred municipal councilors and 35 vice mayors are behind their bid for Manalao’s recall.

Army intelligence sources said Manalao’s followers, some of them preachers, are girding for a show of force.

A Maranaw missionary, who graduated from the World Islamic Call University in Tripoli, Libya, however, said there are many religious leaders in favor of the recall election.

Elected vice governor in the 2004 polls, Manalao took over as governor after the death of Mamintal Adiong, father of ARMM Vice Gov. Ansarudin Adiong.

Lawyer Cadar Omar, ARMM executive secretary from 1993 to 1995, said if the Comelec favors the recall move, the Lanao del Sur gubernatorial post will be declared vacant.

"There will be a fair contest for qualified aspirants, including Gov. Manalao. Whoever wins the elections is the duly mandated governor of the province," Omar said.