|
Written by Samira Ali Gutoc
|
|
Tuesday, 23 December 2003 |
The only Muslim Cabinet member Simeon Datumanong leaves the Department of Justice (DOJ) effective today, Tuesday ending almost a year of service to run for Congess in the 2nd district of Maguindanao. In high spirits, he met the DOJ press corps at lunch at the DOJ grounds to bid his farewell.
Datumanong, a former congressman, seasoned bureaucrat and LAKAS Executive official for Mindanao was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the post in January 16 2003. This was despite criticisms from legal quarters of Datumanong's lack of legal experience and being Muslim, which might lend him less objective in dealing with the Misuari case.
He however has stayed clear of controversy. On the Abu Sayyaf suspects from Zamboanga City and Sulu detained in Camp Bagong Diwa, he said reports from the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) found "some are innocent and some are guilty." Another high-profile detainee, Nur Misuari and his case was expected to be transferred to Zamboanga City. Currently, it is undergoing preliminary investigation, Datumanong updates, but some quarters want the case shifted to the DOJ and not in Zamboanga. "This is better as Zamboanga with Mayor Clara Lobregat is anti-Misuari," said one incumbent ARMM and MNLF official.
Without any viable rival and with the incumbent governor Andal Ampatuan as his running mate in Maguindanao, Datumanong is confident he might win the congressional seat. He was also confident President Arroyo had majority of the support of Muslim Mindanao citing governors from Sulu, Lanao del Norte, Tawi tawi and their congressmen to be "for GMA".
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed