ARMM Assembly elects first woman Speaker

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Members of the 24-seat Regional Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) broke tradition yesterday when it elected its first woman Speaker.

The new Speaker, Rejie Sahali-Generale, one of three representatives of the island province of Tawi-Tawi to the ARMM legislature, replaced the ailing Pike Mentang, who hails from the second district of Maguindanao.

Sahali-Generale, a registered nurse by profession, is a daughter of Tawi-Tawi Gov. Hadji Sadikul Sahali.

Sahali-Generale is popular for her involvement in various peace advocacy programs in the autonomous region, which covers the geographically scattered Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in Central Mindanao; the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

As Speaker, Sahali-Generale is now the ARMM’s third highest elected official.

Members of the Regional Assembly voted overwhelmingly for Sahali-Generale after declaring the positions of regional speaker and speaker pro tempore vacant due to the faltering health of Mentang.

Sahali-Generale was the speaker pro tempore of the regional legislature prior to her election as Speaker.

Elected as the new speaker pro tempore was Maguindanao Assemblyman Ombra Datumanong, younger brother of House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong.