Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman

Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman is a Filipino politician and current Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after being appointed by President Benigno Aquino III. He represented the Anak Mindanao party-list in Congress from 2001 to 2010. He started as a protégé of slain leader Wahab Akbar, but broke with him around 2007 and was even implicated in his death, although charges were eventually dropped. His two brothers are also influential politicians; older brother Hadjiman "Jim" Hataman is the representative from the lone district of Basilan, and younger brother "Boy" Hataman was previously mayor of Sumisip.

Together, the Hataman brothers constitute a powerful political bloc in Basilan. Former Lamitan mayor Roderick Furigay is considered one of their allies. Gerry Salapuddin was also an ally, but they may have had a falling out after the accusations associated with the Akbar assassination.

Background

Hataman was born on September 11, 1972 in Buli-Buli, Sumisip, Basilan. He completed his primary studies at Buli-Buli Elementary School in Sumisip in March 1986 and secondary studies at Basilan National High School in March 1990. He graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering at AMA Computer College (now AMA Computer University),^[1] where he was the leader of the Muslim Youth and Students Alliance.^[2] He is married to Sitti Djalia Turabin.

Political activity

The Hatamans and their allies constitute one of the powerful familial political blocs of Basilan, and frequently come in conflict with the Akbar family in competing for elected office. Frequently this conflict turns violent; in December 2008, two of Mujiv's cousins were shot dead in an attack, and Mujiv was one of several politicians fingered in Akbar's assassination in November 2007.

Early Akbar protege

Hataman started as an ally of Akbar; he served as Akbar's chief of staff while he was Governor, and in 2001 was supported as the main party-list Anak-Mindanao candidate to the House of Representatives. Under the party-list system, an underrepresented group or party can obtain one House seat for every two percent that it gets of the party-list votes, with a maximum of three.^[3] AMIN achieved the minimum threshold despite election irregularities that nullified some of its votes,^[4] but the Supreme Court then issued a temporary restraining order that prevented the party-list representatives from being sworn in.^[5] Mujiv served as spokesperson for AMIN in the intervening period. After a two-year delay, the Supreme Court in July 2003 lifted the order and he was finally installed as a representative from Basilan at age 30.^[6]

Poorest of the rich

In a 2004 Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Mujiv was cited as one of the "poorest" congressmen serving in the House of Representatives, with a net worth of only P420,000. The same report noted that out of 225 members of the House, only six were not millionaires, with the richest worth upward of P500 million.^[7] By 2006 Mujiv's net worth had increased to P690,000, but was still in the bottom tenth.^[8]

Human rights advocacy

Mujiv served as a member of the Kahapan Foundation—Moro Human Rights Center (Kahapan-MHRC). He sponsored the Anti-Discrimination Bill in the Congress in affirmation of International Convention against All form of Racial Discrimination.

Fallout with Akbar

Being a human rights advocate Hataman opposed Gov, Akabar's implementation of indiscriminate warrantless arrests in Basilan. This started the disagreement between the two. This angered Gov. Akbar that ultimately lead to the falling out of the two.

Accusations in Akbar assassination

Captured suspect and former Tuburan town mayor Hajuron Jamiri accused both Mujiv and his brother Jim as being the masterminds of the November 2007 bombing at the House of Representatives that killed four people including Wahab Akbar. Jamiri claimed in a two-page affidavit that Mujiv and Jim wanted Akbar dead because Basilan would "not be at peace" under his administration.^[9]

The Hataman brothers denied the allegations, however, and Jimiri's statement was eventually retracted. Mujiv claimed that Jimiri had been tortured and that his "confession" came under duress.^[10] Fellow conspirator Ikram Indama likewise later claimed that Salapudin, Bayan Judda, Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain, Jang Hataman, Jim Hataman and Mujiv Hataman were all not involved in the Batasan blast, and that he was forced by the Akbars to admit to the bombing and to implicate the others.^[11]

Business activities

According to a BusinessWorld article, Hataman in 2004 started a company with his brother that distributes fresh fish from Mindanao to businesses in Manila. He said the business is not his, but that of his brother and a brother-in-law, and he only shares his managerial and marketing expertise. "I only help in the marketing. It's really my brother who runs the business," he said. The business started with only P20,000 in capital and now earns P30,000-P40,000 a month. His distribution network includes wet markets in Manila and Quezon City.^[12]

Campaign for governor

In 2010 Mujiv ran for Governor of Basilan, with former vice governor Boni Balamo as his running mate.

Officer-In-Charge of ARMM

President Benigno Aquino III appointed Hataman as Officer-In-Charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on December 22, 2011. The move was criticized by many as Hataman was not a member of the Regional Legislative Assembly. Under Republic Act No. 10153, the President has given authority to appoint Officers In Charge while the Regional Election, originally scheduled August 8, 2011 was postponed until the general election on May 12, 2013.

Full term as ARMM Governor

Hataman was initially hesitant to run for a full term but was convinced by many cause oriented groups in Mindanao to pursue to for a new mandate. He ran under the administration Liberal Party against former governor Nur Misuari, local politician Pax Mungudadatu and 3 other independent candidates. He won in a landslide victory with 232,253 votes^[13]

References