Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has endorsed Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan for the position of Chief Minister in the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliament elections next year.
Hataman, a key figure in the Bangsamoro People Party (BPP) recently joined forces with Tan’s Salaam Party, and other major political groups in the region to form the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) in Maimbung, Sulu.
The endorsement comes after extensive consultations and meetings involving political parties, non-government organizations, and civil society groups across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Hataman said Tan was selected because they believe “he is more than qualified to hold the post.”
Apart from their political parties, BGC also involves the Al Ittihad-UKB Party led by former Sultan Kudarat Governor and current TESDA Secretary Datu Suharto Mangudadatu, and the Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo Party led by Lanao del Sur Governor Bombit Adiong.
Currently serving his second term as the governor of Sulu, Tan is seen as a unifying figure capable of leading the Bangsamoro region towards inclusive governance.
Hataman emphasized the coalition’s belief in Tan’s vision for equitable representation within the Bangsamoro government, ensuring that it serves all citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
The coalition’s advocacy is embodied in the statement: “Ang Bangsamoro ay para sa lahat, hindi lamang para sa iilan (The Bangsamoro is for everyone, not just for a few).”
