House of Representatives Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman filed his certificate of candidacy for reelection as representative for the lone district of the province at the Commission on Election (COMELEC) provincial office in Isabela City on Friday, October 8.
“Nakapagsimula na tayo ng mga magandang adhikain para sa Basilan at sa lahat ng mga Basileño. Nais sana namin na – sa pagtitiwala ng mga mamamayan – ay maipagpatuloy ang mga ito (I have already started my good objectives for Basilan and to all Basileño. And I hope that with the trust given by the people I will be able continue it),” Hataman said.
Hataman, the former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), was accompanied by his wife Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman and children Amin and Umara when he filed his COC.
“Marami na tayong magagandang nasimulan para sa Basilan. Pero hindi pa tapos ang laban – ang laban sa kahirapan, ang laban sa terrorismo, ang laban para sa maayos na kabuhayan, at laban sa anumang uri ng diskriminasyon (We have already started good things for Basilan. But the battle is not yet over especially our battle against poverty, terrorism, livelihood and all kinds of discrimination),” added Hataman.
“May mabigat na laban pa tayo sa COVID-19, na patuloy na binabago ang ating pamumuhay. May mga programang hindi pa lubusang naipapatupad sa sektor ng turismo at ekonomiya. Marami pang kailangang ayusin at haharapin para sa patuloy na pagbangon na ating mahal na lalawigan (We have a big battle against COVID-19 which continues to change our lives. We still have programs in the tourism and economic sectors that need to be done. There are a lot of things to fix and face for our beloved province to rise again).” Hataman was a three-term regional governor of ARMM (2011 to 2019) before being elected as representative of Basilan.
The incumbent Basilan congressman has authored several local measures that seek to uplift his home province including Republic Act No. 11554 which converted Basilan State College into Basilan State University.
In the 18th Congress, Hataman is the principal author of 60 House bills and co-authored 34 measures. (Melvin Sarangay)