COTABATO CITY\u2014In what could be a departure from what was thought to be just a transition period for MujivHataman at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), President Benigno Aquino endorsed Hataman as administration candidate for governor in next year\u2019s elections in ARMM.
\nA group endorsing other officials for governor, however, said fielding Hataman as candidate for governor would betray the real intention of appointing Hataman as acting governor of the ARMM after Mr. Aquino lobbied Congress for a law that suspended elections in the region.
\nA group supporting Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan said, should elections in ARMM proceed next year, it would support Tan\u2019s candidacy for governor.
\nTan, said the Sulu peace group AnakSug Alliance for Peace and Progress (AnakSug) in a statement, \u201cis in good terms with all the governors of ARMM, and mayors of the different provinces are not a stranger to his sincere determination to help the President achieve justice, peace and development.\u201d
\nDr. AmildasaAnnil, a leader of the group Movement for Sustainable Good Government, said pushing Hataman as candidate for governor would show that his appointment as officer in charge of ARMM was \u201ca mere political charade.\u201d
\nIn its statement, AnakSug said it will write to Mr. Aquino to try to convince the President that Tan \u201cis the choice of the majority of people in the ARMM.\u201d
\n\u201cThere will be more civil society groups that shall endorse Tan,\u201d the AnakSug statement said.
\nEsmael \u201cToto\u201d Mangudadatu, governor of Maguindanao and chair of the Liberal Party in the province, said Mr. Aquino had made it clear at a recent meeting with ARMM governors in Malaca\u00f1ang that Hataman will be the administration candidate for ARMM governor.
\n\u201cThe President endorsed to us Hataman as ARMM governor,\u201d Mangudadatu said in a phone interview.
\nHataman said he was, indeed, being pushed by Mr. Aquino to run. \u201cPare, parangkailanganmongtumakbo (Pal, it looks like you have to run),\u201d Hataman quoted the President as telling him. Hataman said, however, that he reminded the President of his public statement not to run for governor after his OIC role ends.<\/p>\n