Duterte: PBBM’s intervention needed to resolve Maguindanao Norte issue

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos should intervene in the conflict involving leadership in the defunct Maguindanao province, his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, said.

"It's just one call only. Bahala na si Presidente Marcos kung sino ang gusto niya (It's up to President Marcos who he wants to sit there). We will leave it to his discretion—president's desire to but he has to act to avert this thing," he said.

The financial crisis blew Maguindanao del Norte due to the concerns about the legitimacy of leadership that resulted in hampering the delivery of basic services to the people as well as causing the delay of salaries of the province's workforce.

"There's a crisis there and it's because of politics. There are two governors claiming to the rightful (leadership)," Duterte said.

The former president said Marcos could always make one call to make an order and resolve the issue in Maguindanao del Norte "once and for all."

"He can call the person that he favored and tell him to go away. If not, he can call the army to remove that person, that is the end of it. If there's a complaint, then go to the Supreme Court," Duterte said.

It's at Marcos' discretion, he added.

In June this year, Malacañang announced that Marcos had appointed Abdulraof Macacua and Fatima Ainee Sinsuat as governor and vice governor of Maguindanao del Norte, respectively.

This came after Maguindanao residents ratified in a plebiscite in September last year, mandating the division of the province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur—provided under Republic Act 11550, which was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2021.

Despite the Palace's announcement of Macacua's appointment, Fatima Ainee Sinsuat assumed the governorship in Maguindanao del Norte.

Duterte insists that Marcos should step in and resolve the conflict in leadership.

"A crisis like that; it needs presidential intervention at once. Just call the other one and weigh in on who is better or right. It's a matter of law. It does not need a brilliant or ordinary man to really understand the conflicting laws involved. All you have to do is to ask your law office to give you (advice)—what you should do or whatever is the correct law or interpretation of the law to resolve this issue," he said.

Duterte said Marcos should not prolong the "uncertainties and divisions" to prevent the emergence of more problems.

"It would create more problems for the people, including the salaries. Many people will get hungry if you do not act promptly on it. All you have to do as the President is to tell them who should lead and the other go," he stressed.

Duterte said Marcos should give an ultimatum to the leadership in the province.

"I was like that when I was President. Do not complicate matters. Whether you are right or you are wrong, the legal office of Malacañang can help you decide," he added.

"In any government office, there's always a legal law office to advise. I am a lawyer, but when I was a President I listened to the opinion of the legal office. It's the legal office that has the final say so far as the President is concerned. Do not prolong the agony because you can do something about it if you really want to," Duterte said.

He added that the President always has the power to resolve conflicting issues in the government.

Earlier in August, the conflict in leadership in the defunct province worsened after the Supreme Court ruled that Sinsuat is the "rightful holder" of the gubernatorial seat of Maguindanao del Norte.

In a decision promulgated on 26 June 2023 but released only on 8 August the Court stated that "Sinsuat, as duly elected Vice-Governor of the Province of Maguindanao, and Mastura, as next ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Maguindanao, validly assumed office as governor and vice-governor, respectively, of the Province of Maguindanao del Norte, but only in acting capacities until elections for the permanent officials to the said positions shall have been held."