Ulama league’s head calls for sobriety in Lanao Sur

MARAWI CITY — The chairman of the Ulama League of the Philippines called for calm and sobriety in Lanao del Sur as Gov. Aleem Bashier Manalao is poised to return to his post following his 90-day suspension which ends today.

Dr. Mahid Mutilan also issued the call as 25 of Lanao del Sur’s 40 mayors, citing loss of confidence in Manalao’s leadership, are filing today a recall petition against the governor.

Manalao was suspended last Nov. 5 in connection with graft cases which majority of provincial board members filed against him.

"This is not to defend Manalao, but I am calling on the people not to support the recall move to prevent a bad precedent," said Mutilan, head of the local Ompia-Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats (CMD) political party, to which Manalao belongs.

The recall move against Manalao is the first-ever in the 45-year history of Lanao del Sur.

Senior Superintendent Akmad Mama—linta, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has beefed up security in the province to prevent any violence that may erupt following the filing of the recall petition.

The 25 mayors behind the recall move have so far gathered at least 30,000 signatures or 15 percent of the total 200,000 registered voters of Lanao del Sur.

Engineer Titing Atar, Manalao’s brother-in-law, however, described the recall petition as "an exercise in futility."

"If the Commission on Elections (Co—melec) sees merit and grants the petition, it will require the tedious process of validating the signatures one by one in the presence of the Comelec as well as the representatives of Manalao and the petitioners," he said.

Atar reminded the proponents that no recall elections can be held one year before regular polls, which are slated in May 2007.

"We doubt if they can do all of these processes in four months," he said.

"Besides, Manalao will take all available legal measures to counter the recall move and this will take more time," he added.

Atar also dismissed the recall move against his brother-in-law as "plain political persecution."

Manalao was elected vice governor in the 2004 elections, but assumed the position of governor following the death of re-elected Gov. Mamintal Adiong due to an illness three days after he took his oath of office. Senior provincial board member Monera Maca—bangon took over as vice governor.