Tuesday, May 09, 2006

ARMM Speaker Hatimil Hassan Resigns

COTABATO CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 09 May) Former Muslim rebel leader-turned-politician Hatimil Hassan has resigned as Speaker of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the official Philippine Information Agency said Tuesday.

It said Assemblyman Paisalin Tago, of Lanao del Sur province, was formally installed as the new RLA Speaker late Monday. Hassan, a leader of the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front, was not immediately available for a statement.

But the government information desk said Hassan was too busy with the MNLF and voluntarily relinquished his post in favor of Tago after a consensus among the 23 assemblymen from the five provinces of Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur that comprised the Muslim autonomous region.

Hassan also served as Speaker during the time of ARMM Governor Parouk Hussin and that he retained his position under the current governor Zaldy Ampatuan allegedly on the request of President Gloria Arroyo. Both Hassan and Ampatuan are staunch allies of Arroyo.

Ampatuan, the scion of a wealthy and influential political clan in Maguindanao province, was a former town mayor before he became governor.

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