Resolve Maguindanao Norte impasse, Rody tells BBM

Former President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intervene in the leadership conflict in Maguindanao del Norte.

"It's just one call. It's up to President Marcos to decide who he wants to sit there. We will leave it to his discretion, but he has to act to avert this thing," Duterte said.

Due to doubts about the legitimacy of its provincial government, Maguindanao del Norte has been hit by a financial crisis, hampering the provision of basic services to its population.

The local government impasse and economic downturn have resulted in delays in the payment of wages to the province's workforce.

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

The former president said Marcos can resolve the issue in Maguindanao del Norte "once and for all."

"He can call the person 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.

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

This came after the people of Maguindanao ratified in a plebiscite in September last year the division of the province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

The division was provided for under Republic Act 11550 which was signed by Duterte in May 2021.

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