Panelo: Resolve Maguindanao Norte predicament

Former Presidential Legal Adviser Atty. Salvador Panelo on Thursday has called on the provincial government of Maguindanao del Norte to resolve the problem of having two governors, saying that it stalls the basic public services that should be delivered to the public.

"The law is very clear, you cannot have vacancy in government elected position, otherwise problems will occur like what is happening now in Maguindanao del Norte where it has Bangsamoro Ministry of Interior and Local Government-endorsed Governor Abdulraof Macacua and designated acting Governor Fatima Ainee Sinsuat who was the former Vice Governor," Panelo said.

He added that the Supreme Court also have already ruled "that the designation of Sinsuat is valid," as the local government employees are also caught in the middle of controversy of having two governors for their province.

Sinsuat's spokesperson Atty. Samuel Divina earlier explained that the situation of the province is getting bleaker as the MILG continues to block the funds supposedly intended for the people of Maguindanao del Norte, as well as the plans and programs of the local government supposedly governed by the designated acting governor since Maguindanao was separated into two by the plebiscite last year.

He added that Malacañang was not swayed by the prodding of the MILG and should now recall the appointment of Abdulraof Macacua, who was not even voted by the people of Maguindanao.

"Recall the appointment of Macacua, for the basic services to the people to roll," Divina said, pleading Malacañang to cancel or nullify the appointment of Macacua.

Divina also stressed that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's Bureau of Local Government and Finance, the MILG and the Land Bank in the province are allegedly holding the budget hostage because of the confusion it brought when they endorsed Macacua to Malacañang to be the governor.

Divina said that the MILG was even a respondent to the Petition for Mandamus filed by Sinsuat at the Supreme Court which ruled on her favor.