NCMF Officer-in-Charge Com. Michael M. Mamukid receives assurances of support from the influential Dimaporo Clan of the province of Lanao del Norte.
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MANILA (SDN) — Commissioner Michael M. Mamukid has won big support from the political clan of Lanao del Norte, the Dimaporos.
The clan’s support came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” D. Abalos, Jr. designated Mamukid on March 8 to lead the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) as its officer-in-charge (OIC).
The province’s former congressman, Abdullah Dimaporo, Gov. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo, and Rep. Khaled Q. Dimaporo tendered a dinner for Mamukid on Friday, March 15, in Manila.
Yusoph “Yul” A. Lamping, Ph.D., former regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Western Mindanao, who’s back at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City, relayed this to SDN – SciTech & Digital News on Monday, March 18, at the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The LTO official said the new OIC of the NCMF had sent words that he wanted to Lanao del Norte clan to seek a meeting. On hearing this the Dimaporos, instead, came to Manila and granted Mamukid’s request to pay a courtesy call.
Mamukid, Lamping, businessman Datu Lowell Macabangen of Maguindanao del Sur, Bangsamoro region, and this journalist attended the Ramadan iftar at the embassy in Makati City.
Saudi Arabian Ambassador Hisham bin Sultan Al-Qahtani for Filipino guests and Muslim and Arab diplomats, as well as non-Muslims to partake of the spirit of Ramadan in the spirit of amity, brotherhood, and humanity. And the Arabic and Middle Eastern food and delicacies preferred by Shangri-La at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila.
Mamukid, former director at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Davao regions, confirmed to SDN the meeting with the powerful clans of Lanao del Norte.
“We will support you,” Governor Dimaporo assured the OIC of the NCMF. The younger Congressman Dimaporo echoed his mother’s words. Still an influential Moro leader, Abdullah Dimaporo is of the same sentiments.
Mamukid was highly thankful of the big expression of support.
“Thank you, Ma’am. I need your help in my desire to reform the NCMF,” he said.
“OIC Sec. Atty. Mike Mamukid is sincerely working to do his best in leading the NCMF”
Macabangen, who has business interests in some parts of the country, also assured support to the OIC and the NCMF as a whole, saying he believes Mamukid’s character and sincerity to reform the Commission.
“With all the pilgrimage-related problems last year, OIC Mike Mamukid needs all the help he can get. But to be clear, the DILG designated him only in this March when the hajj contracts were already signed and the pilgrimage operation already in full swing,” Macabangen emphasized.
It can be recalled the NCMF, established through Republic Act No. 9997, was the subject of complaints during the 2023 Philippine Hajj Mission during which scores of the over 7,000 Filipino pilgrims, their relatives, political leaders such as then Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan slammed the officials who were involved in the pilgrimage to Makkah operation.
The pilgrims’ complaints involved much-to-be desired accommodation, food, and transportation services provided to them. But instead, NCMF officials concerned blame Saudi hajj service providers. This did not sit well with the Saudi government, a reliable source told SDN.
As the noise of the complaints reverberated, the House of Representatives conducted at least three public hearings, so far, with NCMF officials concerned to dig up the causes of the hajj fiasco last year. A fourth hearing is also expected.
Moreover, with the House public hearings under its Committee on Public Accounts, threats of criminal prosecution hang like the Sword of Damocles over the heads of those NCMF officials found committing wrongdoings.
In a related development, NCMF-National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Dr. Dimapuno A. Datu-Ramos welcomed the deignation of the new OIC of the Commission.
“In my humble opinion, OIC Sec. Atty. Mike Mamukid is sincerely working to do his best in leading the NCMF. He wants transparency and inclusivity. He should be supported through honesty and competence,” the former director of the Bureau of External Relations (NCMF-BER) said on social media. — EDD K. USMAN (/)