Appointment of 3 women to sensitive BARMM posts hailed
COTABATO CITY — Advocates of women empowerment and groups helping protect their rights expressed elation and support over the weekend for the appointment of three women to high positions in the Bangsamoro government.
The three appointees — lawyers Sha Elijah D. Alba and Anna Tarhata S. Basman, and long-time peace advocate Susana S. Anayatin — are the newest members of the 80-seat regional parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim last week appointed Ms. Alba as regional local government minister and Ms. Basman and Ms. Anayatin as regional attorney-general and director of the Office of Settler Communities, respectively.
Aileen Kesa Marie U. Hualde, executive director of the Women’s Organization of Rajah Mamalu Descendants, said on Sunday that she is grateful to Mr. Ebrahim for entrusting to Ms. Alba, Ms. Basman, and Ms. Anayatin key positions in the regional government covering provinces where there is strong dominance, as a culture, by men in community affairs, governance and politics.
“We in our organization, composed of women from the ethnic Teduray community, are happy to see three very qualified women get to the helm of three big offices in BARMM,” Ms. Hualde said.
Lawyer Suharto Ambolodto, also a member of the regional parliament, said that the three appointees have good public service track records and are known for being supportive of programs meant to foster cultural and religious solidarity among Muslims, Christians and non-Moro indigenous people, or IPs, in the autonomous region.
Ms. Anayatin, a devout Catholic, had served as chairperson of the Multi-Sector Advisory Board of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division for nine years. The group is helping 6th ID formulate plans and policies pertaining to its community service efforts and peacebuilding activities in parts of BARMM and in Region 12.
The Muslims Ms. Alba, a Maguindanaon, and Ms. Basman, who is of Maranaw descent, are both human rights lawyers and are popular for their cordial ties with Christian communities.
“We hail their having been given vital positions in the regional government in concurrent capacities, them being members of the regional parliament too,” Mr. Ambolodto said.
A physician-ophthalmologist in the BARMM parliament, Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., said there is Muslim, Christian and IP representation in their regional law making body and in agencies under their chief minister, Mr. Ebrahim, who is chairperson of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“And that is so good in fostering peace and sustainable development in BARMM,” Mr. Sinolinding said. — John Felix M. Unson
