With heavy heart, Hussin bids goodbye

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — With a seemingly heavy heart, outgoing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Parouk Hussin bade goodbye to his constituents yesterday, priding himself in building linkages between the regional government and foreign groups and donor countries.

Last Thursday, Hussin backed out of the gubernatorial race in support of the decision of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), of which he is the vice chairman for foreign affairs, to boycott today’s regional elections.

Hussin earlier bolted the administration party, the Lakas-CMD (Christian, Muslim Democrats), under whose banner he ran for governor in 2001.

Hussin’s resignation from the party and the MNLF boycott were prompted by the Lakas-CMD’s decision to anoint a non-MNLF member, Mayor Zaldy Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, as its official candidate for ARMM governor.

Ampatuan is a son of Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan, a known protégé of President Arroyo.

Last week, Hussin told reporters in Zamboanga City that he withdrew from the gubernatorial race also because of the "credibility crisis" hounding the Commission on Elections.

"I cannot participate in a suspicion-ridden exercise," he said, alluding to alleged cheating in the ARMM during the 2004 national elections as mentioned in the so-called "Gloriagate" tapes between Mrs. Arroyo and a Comelec official believed to be former Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.