Tausugs laud Tans' re-election bid

 SULU – Tausugs have lauded the re-election bid of Governor Sakur Tan who filed his candidacy with the Commission on Elections for next year’s polls.

(Photos: Jaques Tutong, Patrice Elaine Ting, Shernee Tambut, Zack Musa)

Aside from the Tan patriarch, his sons Vice Governor Toto Tan and Rep. Samier Tan are also seeking re-election and so are Rep. Shernee Tambut and Maimbung Mayor Shihla Hayudini. 

The Tans are known philanthropists and well-respected not only in the southern province of Sulu, but in Mindanao; and are close political allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Tan’s supporters welcomed their re-election bid, saying the politicians have brought massive development projects in the province despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Municipal mayors also filed their re-election bid and renewed their strong support for the Tans.

Provincial employees also thanked the Tans for putting the safety and welfare of the public among their top priorities.

Sulu’s dramatic transformation from a sleepy and war-torn province to what it is now is largely attributed to the elder Tan and his sons. Their peace and development efforts and support from the national government, especially Duterte, has propelled Sulu’s economy the past six years.

The peace and order situation remains generally peaceful, although the presence of a few foreign militants and their violent campaign briefly had disturbed the tranquillity of the capital town of Jolo last year. But the town quickly rose from the shadow of violence and is now one of the busiest in Sulu.

The Tans’ style of leadership and their legacies are what the locals are proud of and truly Tausug, according to Abubakre Sulaiman, one of their supporters.

“Maganda na ang Sulu ngayon at ibang-iba na. Marami na ang may negosyo at mas peaceful kami noon at lahat (ng) ito ay nagsimula dahil naging gubnol (governor) si Sakur. Yun mga anak rin niya (ay) magagaling lahat, si Vice (governor) Toto at si (Representative) Samier, pati si (Maimbung Mayor) Shihla (Hayudini) at si Kah Shernee (Representative of Kusug Tausug partylist). Pati si Kah Indah (First Lady Nurinisah Tan),” he said.

“Matulungin silang lahat at simple lang kaya gusto namin sila dito sa Sulu at wala ng iba, sila lang. Masaya kami ngayon at maganda na yun mga lugar namin, lalo na yun Jolo at Maimbung, parang Maynila na ngayon dahil maraming ilaw at maganda talaga,” he added. (Mindanao Examiner)