KIDAPAWAN CITY - Maguindanao Governor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu had endorsed a lawyer and a politician as members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, which is tasked to draft the proposed basic law as contained in the framework agreement signed into by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
President Aquino signed on December 17 Executive Order 120, which constituted the 15-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission.
The commission would be composed by 15 members -- eight would be selected by the MILF and the rest by the government.
Mangudadatu endorsed in the commission on the government side lawyer Suharto Ambolodto, former election supervisor in Maguindanao, and Maguindanao's Representative Simeon Datumanong (2nd district).
For Mangudadatu, Ambolodto and Datumanong are respected lawyers who can well represent the Moro people in the commission.
Mangudadatu said Secretary Teresita Deles has called him up on Friday to ask for endorsements.
Without a doubt, he said, he chose the two.
Datumanong, 77, was first governor of Maguindanao elected in 1973. In 1984, he was elected to the Batasang Pambansa. In 1992, Datumanong was elected as to the House of Representatives to represent Maguindanao's Second District.
In 2001, he became secretary of Public Works and Highways. Two years later, he was Secretary of the Department of Justice. He was reelected to the House of Representatives in 2007 and represents Maguindanao’s second district up to the present.
Ambolodto had also served in various key positions in the government and in international non-government institutions.
President Aquino would choose from the list of candidates the appointees for the commission.