ARMM Governor threatens to impose sanctions on absentee mayors

COTABATO CITY – Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has threatened to impose sanctions against local government executives who are not doing their jobs and always absent from their work. 

Hataman’s warning came after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who serves as Martial Law administrator in Mindanao, ordered a closer monitoring of local chief executives in Mindanao, including ARMM.

ARMM is composed of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Su;u and Tawi-Tawi, including the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

In his order issued recently, Lorenzana said the absence of local chief executives would results in the total failure in the delivery of vital and basic services to their constituents.

“This situation presents a very serious concern as the lack of basic services leads to a general dissatisfaction with government, which has been determined to be one of the leading causes for individuals to join rebel, or extremist groups,” Lorenzana said.

Hataman said Lorenzana’s order will help determine who among the local chief executives are not performing their mandate. “Magkakaalaman na,” he said.

Martial Law was first declared on May 23, 2017 after fighting erupted in Marawi and even it was declared over five months laters, military and police intelligence sources claimed that extremist groups were still recruiting new members in various parts in Mindanao.

Last month, lawmakers, upon the recommendation of the security sector, voted to extend Martial Law for another year.

Lorenzana’s instructions also noted that the military, the police and other law enforcement agencies should assist Hataman and provincial governors in the monitoring of local government executives in their respective areas.

At the end of each month, regular compliance and evaluation reports are to be consolidated at the provincial level and submitted to Lorenzana.

In the past weeks, Hataman has been going around the provinces to check on the implementation of government infrastructure projects. This time, Hataman said, he will also be making unannounced visits to different municipalities to check on the presence of local chief executives. “These local chief executives were voted by the people. They should be in their offices,” he said. (Bureau of Public Information)

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