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(SDN) — National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim has started his shake up of the Commission’s third level positions.
Tawi-Tawi native Abdurahim, a former “sheikh” (pilgrims’ leader) quite knowledgeable on the ways of the Hajj, the Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, issued Office Order No. 24-11-406 on October 28, 2024, identifying the officials covered by the re-shuffle.
On Monday the Commission effected the change of command, formally giving those affected the opportunity to deep dive into their new job.
First in the list is Executive Director Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr., CESO II, designated as bureau director in concurrent capacity of the Bureau of External Relations (BER). The BER is a crucial bureau of the Commission as it handles the issuance of Certificates of Tribal Membership (CTM) which members of the 13 Moro tribes are required to secure when traveling to work in the Middle East.
Next in the list is Deputy Executive Director Atty. Jehan Jehan A. Lepail in concurrent capacity as bureau director of the Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs (BMCA). The bureau handles three major programs, such as the annual National Qur’an Reading Competition (NQRC), the Shari’ah education training and Special Shari’ah Bar Exam in coordination with the Supreme Court, and Madrasah education, as well as supervision of mosques in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Another crucial designation and assignment went to Eng’r Rahmatol M. Mamukid, Director IV, as bureau director of the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment (BPE), which handles and manages the obligatory Hajj. Depending on a person’s propensity, the BPE is like a hot rod, or a magnet, because of the controversies that surrounded past pilgrimage operations. Mamukid was director of the Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs (BMEA).
Mamukid’s designation may prove crucial as the clamor from Moro legislators in the House of Representatives has become louder in that wake of the perennial controversies, even anomalies, that have been hounding for years the NCMF-led pilgrimage operation.
In fact, the House already conducted four hearings on the 2023 Hajj to dig up reasons for the problems and identify possible NCMF officials responsible for the 2023 Hajj fiasco, before Abdurahim assumed his post in April 2024 as the Commission’s head.
Understandably, observers said the Muslim public is awaiting the publication of the results of the House hearings through a resolution that may recommend the filing of criminal cases if warranted.
Other directors in what could be just the first burst of the shakeup are NCMF-South Luzon Director Saleha Pangarungan Sacar returning to BMEA; Sultan Masideng M. Salic from Bureau of Muslim Settlements (BMS) to Bureau of Peace and Conflict Resolution (BPCR); Cosanie T. Derogongan from BPCR to BMS; Michael Mito-on J. Ali from acting BMCA director to his former post as chief of Legal Affairs Division (LAD) at Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA); Ceazar M. Maranda, CPA, from acting director of BER back as chief of SEDD at NCMF-South Luzon; and Zainoden M. Usudan from BPE acting officer-in-charge (OIC) being returned to chief of Operation Division, BPE.
Abdurahim’s Office Order on the shake up “shall take effect on November 11, 2024, “unless repealed or amended.”
In relation with this, Lidasan as executive director of the Commission issued a Memorandum oo Sunday, November 10, as he enjoined all those covered in the reshuffle “to attend the turnover of command ceremony” On Monday, November 11 at the Conference Room of the Office of the Secretary (OSEC). (/)