Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman underscored the importance of good governance in his anniversary message Saturday, Jan. 21 on the historic founding of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
"Today, we celebrate the anniversary of the historic founding of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and commemorate our continuing fight and struggle for the autonomy of the Bangsamoro people," Hataman said in a statement.
"Our people now live and enjoy the peace won by sweat, tears and blood, with hands that toiled despite all the odds against the fruits of that labor. Our aspirations continue to push us forward as our leaders continue the struggle — this time in governance, on a different battlefield to make the lives of our people better," he said.
The Mindanaoan further said: "The good governance that we have begun should continue to truly serve the Bangsamoro people, to honor the legacies of our forebears' struggle for self-determination that has won us this autonomy."
"But for peace to be sustainable in the Bangsamoro, good governance should encourage a wide participation of the people and should be accompanied by transparency to show our commitment in performing our duties to the highest standards of public service," added Hataman.
Hataman is the former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which was superseded by BARMM four years ago.
"As our brothers in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front lay down their arms, let us pray that they go on a path to better lives with the peace that they have fought hard for and the promise of progress that it brings to the Bangsamoro," he said.
BARMM was formed with the ratification of its basic law, the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), following a two-part legally binding plebiscite in Western Mindanao held on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6, 2019.