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Veteran lawmaker reelected as BTA-BARMM speaker

By Edwin Fernandez

September 15, 2022, 12:24 pm

<p>Reelected Bangsamoro Transition Authority - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Speaker Pangalian Balindong. <em>(Photo courtesy of BTA-BARMM)</em></p>

Reelected Bangsamoro Transition Authority - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Speaker Pangalian Balindong. (Photo courtesy of BTA-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY -- Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament reelected veteran lawmaker Pangalian Balindong as speaker of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provisional lawmaking body during a special assembly here Thursday.

“We cannot fail because our people have suffered enough,” said Balindong, a lawyer, following his reelection at 10:30 a.m. by the BTA.

“It is only through our unity that we can repay the blood that our brothers and sisters had spilled to achieve their dream towards peace, progress and right for self-determination,” he added after taking over the opening session presided over by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim.

Balindong was unanimously elected by the majority of the parliament members present, who are already in the session hall of the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center while awaiting the arrival of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Marcos will be the guest of honor of the inaugural session this afternoon.

Balindong was first elected to head the BTA in March 2019 and led the passing of landmark bills that became laws in BARMM.

Born on January 1, 1940, Balindong is a veteran revolutionary fighter, lawyer, and politician.  He once served as a House member representing Lanao del Sur's first district.

Balindong also served as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of the 1971 Philippine Constitutional Convention.

For most of his political life, Balindong advocated the age-old quest for self-determination of Muslim Filipinos in Mindanao.

Also elected as deputy speakers were BTA members Hatimil Hassan, Omar Yasser Sema, Paisalin Tago, Abdulkarim Misuari, Nabil Tan, Lanang Ali Jr., and Benjamin Loong.

Professor Raby Angkal and Abdulgani Caludtiag were also reelected as secretary-general and sergeant-at-arms of the parliament, respectively.

Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba was elected as the majority floor leader.

The new set of BTA officers takes office immediately and will serve until their successors are elected in 2025. (PNA)

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