Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu (Facebook)

A former congressman has welcomed the bicameral Commission on Appointment (CA) for its decision to reject the ad interim appointment of ex-Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Suharto ‘Teng’ Mangudadatu.

Esmael ‘Toto’ Mangudadatu, who’s now a peace advocate in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said that CA’s rejection of Teng’s bid for colonel reservist in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was justified. 

"Magandang balita ang naging desisyon na hindi bigyan ng titulong army colonel reservist si Teng," he said.

(It's good news that Teng wasn't given the title of army colonel reservist.)

Toto, who’s Teng’s 3rd degree cousin, has cited instances of his relative’s track record of alleged abuses in their homeland.

In a statement Monday, Dec. 2, Toto accused his cousin of keeping an armed reservist group of "thousands".

“Pinadadala ng mga baril, akala ng mga tao sundalo lahat, zero IB (infantry battalion) pala ang mga yun,” disclosed Toto, who is also a former Maguindanao governor.

(He makes them carry firearms, this makes the people think they are soldiers, it turns out they're zero IB.)

He added: “Mayron silang mga private cars na kulay green. Doon nakasakay lahat ng private armed groups nila, at tinatakot nila lahat na ipakukulong.”

(They have private cars that are colored green. The members of the private armed groups use them, and they threaten to to imprison everyone.)

Toto also alleged that Teng had been "abusing" the name of the Philippine Army.

Teng's bid to become an army colonel reserve was shut down during a panel deliberation by the CA, where the former TESDA chief was denied due to non-compliance and non-appearance during proceedings despite the numerous invitations to attend. 

Panel head and Camiguin lone district Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo explained that Teng bypassed the proceedings four times. This is enough grounds for his rejection for the position, as per to Section 24 of the CA Rules.