BY ASANGAN T. MADALE
BARMM-MILG Minister lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo has clarified issues there have no changes in the governorship in the province of Maguindanao Del Norte, despite a recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling Which remains status quo. This was following the public’s confusion on who is the current governor of the province with the SC decision on the petition for a writ of Mandamus filed by Fatima Ainee Sinsuta, vice governor of Maguindanao Del Norte as appointed by President Ferdinand Marco Jr. “Wala pa naman hong nababago doon sa estado ng pamumuno sa probinsya ng Maguindanao Del Norte. ( There is no changes as to who is the head of province of Maguindanao Del Norte) Sinarimbo said. He told the members of the media during the Usapang Bangsamoro press briefing held on Thursday, August 17,2023., adding that at his office , a party to the case ,has not yet received an official copy of the said SC decision hence making it not final and executory.
“(Sa) rules of court ,’yung partido ay binibigyan ng panahon para mag-take ng appropriate action doon sa (SC) decision . In this case, yung parties involved kami halimbawa pag natangap namin yung decision ay maeron 15 days para mag-file ng motion for reconsideration or any appropriate action.”, he explained. (According to court rulings, the party concerned is given enough time to take appropriate action , example us once we will received copy of the SC decision, we are given 15-days to file motion for reconsideration or any appropriate action) he explained.’.
“Kung hindi pa namin natatanggap yung decision, hindi pa tatakbo ‘yung 15-days para mag-file ng motion for reconsideration […] So simple lang ho, malinaw masyado ang rules of court, na hindi (ito) final and executory,” Sinarimbo added.
“In the meantime na hindi mai-implement yung decision dahil ito ay hindi pa final, ano ang mangyayari? Ibig sabihin ‘yung current status hindi dapat dinidistorbo ‘yun. Hindi ho dapat disturbed yung status quo habang hindi pa final ang decision ng korte,” he further explained.
Sinarimbo also pointed out that the SC decision does not include the validity of the appointment of Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, who was also appointed by President Marcos Jr.
“Hindi naman ho cancelled or nullified ‘yung appointment na in-issue ni Pangulong Marcos kay Governor Macacua so hindi ho bakante ang opisina ng governor ng Maguindanao del Norte,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim on August 13, he said that the Bangsamoro Government firmly respects the independence of the judiciary and the finality of its decisions, subject to the observance of the principles of the due process.
“We believe that in the course thereof, responsible parties must refrain from resorting to acts that may misinterpret, pre-empt, or undermine the substantial certainty of the High Court’s decision,” he said.
Ebrahim also called on the public to ensure the dissemination of accurate information so as not to cause further confusion and unrest in the affected areas of the Bangsamoro
Meantime, On August 14, 2023 Bai Ainee Sinsuat assumed as Acting Governor of Maguindanao Del Norte ,while Board member Shariffudin Mastura assumed his post as Vice governor of the said province. This was confirmed by her lawyer Ronald Torres as published in the official facebook account of the DXMS Radyo Bida of Catabato City.
According to her lawyer Torres assumption to office as governor of Maguindanao Del Norte was based on ruling of the Supreme Court she filed before she was appointed as OIC Vice governor of the said province by President Ferdinand “Bongbong Marcos Jr. on Mandamus
She stepped down to invoked an SC ruling in late June upholding the validity of her assumption as the governor of Maguindanao Del Norte , after a 2022 plebiscite ratified by law splitting Maguindanao into two
As of now governor Bai Ainee Sinsuat is holding her office at Datu Odin Sinsuat municipality to serve he people.
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