Congressman who? Muslim lawmaker gets shot at fame

Congressman who?

Thanks to the Abu Sayyaf, a little known Muslim lawmaker has become a household name after his negotiating skills were called into play in a failed jailbreak drama yesterday in Bicutan, Taguig City.

It was not the first time that party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman’s help was sought to deal with Abu Sayyaf and other Muslim individuals, especially those alleged to be involved in criminal activities.

During a radio interview, a certain "Ka Lando" dropped Hataman’s name along with actor Robin Padilla, an Islam convert, to jump-start negotiations, prompting the broadcaster to ask who the congressman was.

Padilla is often requested by bandits to negotiate during crisis situations, such as the kidnapping in Sumisip, Basilan in 2000.

The actor, however, was out of the country and the Abu Sayyaf had to settle for Gov. Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Abu Sayyaf detainees at the Camp Bagong Diwa prison in Bicutan revolted shortly after dawn yesterday, overpowering and shooting several prison guards in a gun battle that left up to six inmates and guards dead, according to official sources.

Only 31, Hataman is the lone representative of the party-list Anak Mindanao and is a strong advocate for the protection of Muslim rights.

In fact, it was this Basilan native who led the House inquiry on alleged abuses of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) over the police raid of the Islamic Center in Manila last January. Several suspected members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf believed to be planning a terror attack in Metro Manila were arrested.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) sees nothing wrong in the Abu Sayyaf tapping Hataman as a person they can trust to relay their concerns because they know the lawmaker feels for the plight of Muslims.

"As sectoral representative of the Muslim (community), he is concerned about all matters pertaining to the welfare of his Muslim brothers, so he was requested for the negotiations," said PNP intelligence director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan.

Rafanan even defended Hataman from allegations that the young congressman was tied to terror activities of the Abu Sayyaf.

"He has no links with the Abu Sayyaf or any extremist group whatsoever. He just wants to look after the welfare of his brothers," stressed the police intelligence chief.

"He has spoken several times. He has called for a stop in the military’s operations in Sulu. He has denounced authorities for apparently focusing on our Muslim brothers whenever they launched a campaign against terrorism, or against VCD and DVD pirates," said House Minority Leader Francis Escudero.

Hataman was a member of the majority bloc, but after apparently getting disillusioned he moved to the minority.

"He was a welcome addition to us. Bata pa at may pagka-aktibista (He’s young and activist-minded)," the House leader said.

Hataman’s efforts to help his Muslim brothers, especially those entangled in criminality, have endeared him to his community. Two months ago, he joined Muslim leaders in Camp Crame in seeking the release of those arrested by the CIDG in January.

Prior to this, a representative of Hataman gave financial help to the family of slain suspected Abu Sayyaf member Allan Borlagdatan. Borlagdatan was killed when he allegedly tried to grab the gun of one of his security escorts inside the old building of the PNP Intelligence Group early this year.

Hataman’s aide, who was not identified, handed over the money to Borlagdatan’s siblings at a funeral parlor across Camp Crame in Quezon City.

"We just wanted to give our brother a decent burial. If he was involved in any criminal activities, we do not want to dwell on that," Hataman’s aide said, without elaborating.

Borlagdatan was nabbed by police early this year somewhere in Valenzuela several days after he was linked to the Dec. 24 attempt to bomb an RRCG passenger bus in Manila.

Hataman, a computer engineering graduate, hails from Sumisip town in Basilan, but resides in Quezon City as well.

His party-list group, Anak Mindanao, won its first representation in last year’s national elections. Its headquarters are in Zamboanga City.

Before joining Congress, Hataman worked as a senior executive assistant in the office of the governor in Basilan and as chief of staff of former Basilan congressman Candu Muarip.

Hataman is married to Sitti Djalia Hataman, with whom he has two children.