Muslim House rep resigns to do community work in Mindanao

QUEZON CITY -- A Muslim lady legislator today has resigned from her position as lawmaker representing Anak Mindanao Party-list to shift her focus anew on community work in Mindanao.From legislating,Anak Mindanao Party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman said she will refocus her time to community services, especially among the youth in conflict areas in Mindanao.A second termer partylist representative, Hataman took the floor at the plenary of House of Representatives and announced her decision in a privilege speech shortly before 5 p.m.Amihilda Sangcopan, the party-list’s chief-of-staff from the 12th to the 14th Congress, has been nominated to take Hataman's place. Anak Mindanao has earned two seats in Congress. The other partylist representative is Rep. Makmod Mending Jr. This was no easy decision, and perhaps the craziest I’ve done so far. But those who knew me, and knew my soul, have long suspected I was longing to be back home, Hataman said in her speech. The lady solon is the wife of Regional Gov.Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).Hataman saidand The impact of what happened brought me to so many questions and self-reflections, thoughts of where I am and where I am most needed. Before ending her speech that surprised many colleagues,Hataman made one last plea for her House colleaguesand Pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. She is one of the co-authors.