Security tight in Maguindanao ahead of PNoy's visit to endorse LP bets

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The police and military have started securing strategic spots in Maguindanao as part of the  preparations for Friday’s visit of President Benigno Aquino III to endorse local candidates of the Liberal Party.

The officer-in-charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Mujiv Hataman, who is LP’s official candidate for ARMM governor during the May 2013 regional elections, is also to attend the party’s major sortie in Buluan town in the second district of the province.

Hataman said he has instructed the ARMM’s police director, Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, and the Maguindanao provincial police office to provide tactical support to the Presidential Security Group, which is to secure the site of Aquino’s speaking engagement.

Hataman earlier told The Star that Aquino is likely to visit first the Office of the Regional Governor, touted as the “little Malacañang” of the autonomous region, to meet with regional officials, before proceeding to Buluan, hometown of LP’s provincial chairman, re-electionist Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu.

Hataman said the provincial government of Maguindanao has been busy since last week initiating “legworks” meant to ensure a successful and safe LP sortie in Buluan.

Mangudadatu, in a text message, said he has directed LP candidates for various local positions to focus their campaign discourses on how they can help in the Mindanao peace process if elected.

Mangudadatu said local LP members have sworn to live up to the ideals of one of their “pro-peace” campaign maxims, “ayaw sa away,” as one way of exemplifying their being supportive of the Mindanao peace process.

Twenty six of Maguindanao’s 36 mayors belong to LP, now campaigning for the party’s senatorial, regional and provincial candidates.

Hataman and Mangudadatu both said they are expecting major realignments of political quarters in Maguindanao, in favor of LP, as the May 2013 election comes near.

Mangudadatu said many barangay officials and community elders in Maguindanao towns whose mayors are not members of the administration party have lately been so vocal of their support to local LP candidates.

Hataman said residents of Maguindanao will be honored with the Aquino’s visit on Friday.

“It will be a good opportunity for us to renew our commitment to President Aquino’s vision of a genuine `matuwid na daan’ governance in the autonomous region, in Maguindanao province and all other provinces of ARMM,” Hataman said.

Mangudadatu said they are also to reassure the president of their full support to his administration’s on-going peace overture with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“We shall also renew our pledge to support the FAB (Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro) before the President and express to him our readiness to recognize, respect and support a final peace pact between the government and the MILF,” Mangudadatu said.

The FAB, signed by the government and the MILF on Oct. 15 last year, aims to replace the ARMM with a new autonomous political entity which has more administrative and political powers.