Photo by Zainoden Ismael Victor
COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Government’s Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo clarified that there have been no changes in the governorship in the province of Maguindanao del Norte despite a recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling.
This was following the public’s confusion on who is the current governor of the province with the SC decision on the petition for a writ of Mandamus filed by Fatima Ainee Sinsuat, vice governor of Maguindanao del Norte as appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Wala pa naman hong nababago doon sa estado ng pamumuno sa probinsiya ng Maguindanao del Norte,” Sinarimbo told the members of the media during the Usapang Bangsamoro press briefing held Thursday, Aug. 17.
Lawyer Sinarimbo said that his office, a party to the case, has not yet received an official copy of the said SC decision hence making it ‘not final and executory’.
“(Sa) rules of court, ‘yung partido ay binibigyan ng panahon para mag-take ng appropriate action doon sa (SC) decision. In this case, yung parties involved, kami halimbawa, pag natanggap namin ‘yung decision ay meron kaming 15-days para mag-file ng motion for reconsideration or any appropriate action,” he explained.
“Kung hindi pa namin natatanggap yung decision, hindi pa tatakbo ‘yung 15-days para mag-file ng motion for reconsideration […] So simple lang ho, malinaw masyado ang rules of court, na hindi (ito) final and executory,” Sinarimbo added.
“In the meantime na hindi mai-implement yung decision dahil ito ay hindi pa final, ano ang mangyayari? Ibig sabihin ‘yung current status hindi dapat dinidistorbo ‘yun. Hindi ho dapat disturbed yung status quo habang hindi pa final ang decision ng korte,” he further explained.
Sinarimbo also pointed out that the SC decision does not include the validity of the appointment of Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, who was also appointed by President Marcos Jr.
“Hindi naman ho cancelled or nullified ‘yung appointment na in-issue ni Pangulong Marcos kay Governor Macacua so hindi ho bakante ang opisina ng governor ng Maguindanao del Norte,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim on August 13, he said that the Bangsamoro Government firmly respects the independence of the judiciary and the finality of its decisions, subject to the observance of the principles of the due process.
“We believe that in the course thereof, responsible parties must refrain from resorting to acts that may misinterpret, pre-empt, or undermine the substantial certainty of the High Court’s decision,” he said.
Ebrahim also called on the public to ensure the dissemination of accurate information so as not to cause further confusion and unrest in the affected areas of the Bangsamoro region. (Johanie Mae Kusain/BIO)
