Mayor Sema is new MNLF chair

COTABATO CITY – Mayor Muslimin Sema has been unanimously chosen as the new chair of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) central committee, replacing Assemblyman Hatimil Hassan.

Hatimil Hassan, a member of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, served as interim chair of the MNLF Council of 15 that declared Nur Misuari as MNLF chair emeritus, a titular position, after his arrest on rebellion charges.

“The central committee named me as the new chair after the chairmanship was declared vacant,” Sema said in an interview minutes after the MNLF central committee meeting ended in Pagadian City on Tuesday night.

Hassan was named MNLF vice chair and foreign relations committee head, while Abdul Sahrin, MNLF vice chair for intelligence, was named secretary general, a position previously held by Sema.

Sema said his priority is to improve the MNLF’s relationship with the government.

He also said he would turn the MNLF into a “vanguard” against exploitation and for good governance.

MNLF officials loyal to Misuari were not present in the Pagadian meeting.