Lanao del Sur mourns passing of ex-MSU prexy

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  --- Residents of Lanao del Sur are mourning the death of Hadja Sittie Nurlayla “Emily” Marohombsar, the first ever Maranaw woman to become president of the Mindanao State University (MSU) and member of the government peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The 77-year-old Marohombsar, whose family was from Ganassi town in the second district of Lanao del Sur, died of a cardiovascular disease at a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City last Friday.

“We’ve lost a very good academician, a teacher for non-Maranaws and Maranaws whose academic advancement she really worked for, with all her capabilities, with all dedication” said Assemblywoman Samira Gutoc, women sector representative to the 24-member Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Marohombsar was a recipient of the  Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) award, among many other national and international citations during her tenure as a  teacher and president of MSU.

Marohombsar was the first woman to become member of the GPH panel dealing with the MILF, a post she held on concurrent capacity, while she was president of MSU, the largest state-run university in Southern Philippines.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., who was re-elected to a third and last term during the May 13 polls, said the province is grieving over the demise of Marohombsar.

Maromhombsar was married to a former commissioner of the Commission on Elections, the late Abdul Marohombsar, who also became vice governor of Lanao del Sur.

The MILF also condoled with the family of Marohombsar through a message posted on its website, www.luwaran.com.