Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman didn't forget the late former president Benigno S. Aquino III's 63rd birth anniversary Wednesday, Feb. 8.
More importantly, Hataman also doesn't forget the legacy Aquino has left the Bangsamoro people.
"Narito tayo ngayon sa huling himlayan ng ating dating 'Boss' at malapit na kaibigan na si Pangulong Benigno Simeon 'Noynoy' Aquino III (We are here today at the final resting place of our former 'Boss' and close friend, President Benigno Simeon 'Noynoy' Aquino III)," Hataman wrote in a Facebook post. He was joined by many other friends of "PNoy".
"Nagtipon-tipon kami dito ngayon upang magbigay-pugay kay PNoy sa araw ng kanyang kapanganakan, para parangalan ang kanyang nagawa hindi lang sa amin na kanyang mga kaibigan, kundi para rin sa buong bansang Pilipinas at sa mamamayang Pilipino na kanyang itinuring na kanyang 'Boss' (We gathered here today to honor PNoy on his birth anniversary, to honor his accomplishments not only for his friends, but also for the entire Philippines and its people whom he considers his 'Boss')," he said.
Hataman, a senior member of the Liberal Party (LP) in the House of Representatives, said he wants to "everyone about what PNoy did for Mindanao, how he began the peace process in his term as President and ended the war for Bangsamoro".
Hataman said he was able to witness all of these since he was the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at that time. The ARMM has since been superseded by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
"Kung ano man ang Bangsamoro ngayon, malaking bahagi nito ay ang efforts ni PNoy na wakasan na ang digmaan sa Mindanao at manaig ang kapayapaan (Whatever Bangsamoro is today, it's mainly due to PNoy's efforts to end the war in Mindanao and save the peace there)," he said.
"Maraming salamat, brother! Maaga ka man nawala, hinding hindi namin makakalimutan ang iyong sakripisyo para sa bayan at sa aming lalawigan (Thanks a lot brother! Although you left us too soon, we will never forget your sacrifices for the country and for our province)," he said, referring to the late chief executive.
"Ang sinimulan mong kapayapan ay isang malaking legasiya at tinatamasa na ng Bangsamoro (The peace that you left is a significant legacy and it's being enjoyed by the Bangsamoro)," Hataman said.