Hataman quits House post

MANILA, Philippines — Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman has stepped down from her post.

“This was no easy decision and perhaps the craziest I’ve done so far. But those who know me and know my soul have long suspected I was longing to be back home. I have always been a community worker,” Hataman said in a privilege speech yesterday.  

The party’s third nominee, Hataman’s chief of staff Amihilda Sangcopan, will take over her post. 

“Whatever title or position or status we have, when it no longer serves that purpose, it becomes meaningless. There is no higher office or lower rank. What matters is where and how you can serve best. This is a reminder foremost to myself,” she said. 

Hataman said the crisis in Marawi was among the factors that led to her decision.

“When Marawi happened, especially when I heard  how young some of the members of this group were, I could only ask myself, had I remained in the communities as one of them and spoke to them of peace, perhaps I could have convinced a child or two that it is possible,” she said.

Hataman is the wife of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman. Prior to her stint in the House of Representatives, she was executive director of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. She was also Anak Mindanao’s representative from 2013 to 2016.