MILF, BARMM leadership condole with family of Lanao Sur’s first lady governor

By Ali G. Macabalang

*Photo shows (from right) Lanao Sur Gov. Bombit Adiong, Secretary Macacua and Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, a nephew-in-law of the late ex-governor.*

COTABATO CITY

The leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has joined thousands of people across the country and elsewhere abroad in manifesting sympathy over the recent demise of Princess Tarhata Alonto-Lucman.

The combined officialdom sent Thursday, March 4 a team led by Abdulraof “Sammy Al-Mansoor” Macacua, chief of staff of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and BARMM executive secretary, to personally convey words of sympathy and condolences to the family of late Alonto-Lucman, the first elected lady governor of Lanao del Sur.

*Sec. Abdulraof Macacua’s embrace with former Regional Vice Governor Momoy Alonto-Lucman, son of the deceased princess.*

Accompanied by BARMM’s Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, Sec. Macacua was received by Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto-Adiong Jr. and former Regional Vice Governor Haroun Al-Rashid “Momoy” Alonto Lucman Jr., grandnephew and son of the late princess.

The MILF-BARMM delegation was received at the provincial capitol complex in Marawi City where relatives, friends and sympathizers have been paying their last respect to the former governor since her demise in the early morning of Feb. 26 at Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City at the age of 94.

On March 1, the Senate passed Resolution No. 665 “expressing the profound sympathy and sincere condolences” the upper chamber of Congress on the demise of the Alonto-Lucman.

*Senator Dick Gordon in his virtual sponsorship of Senate resolution conveying sympathy and condolences to the bereaved Alonto-Lucman clan.*

Introduced by Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon and instantly co-authored by all incumbent female senators, the two-page resolution cited the exploits of the late princess both in public service and traditional functions, especially in her strides for Muslim-Christian solidarity and in fostering reconciliation among warring families in Lanao del Sur.

The Senate resolution acknowledged the early education of the former under the tutorship of one of the Thomasites sent by the American government for humanitarian mission – something modern academicians regarded as a feat in breaking orthodox notions that acquiring knowledge from non-Muslims would make on a non-believer in Islam.

It also credited the Maranao princess’ being the daughter of the country’s first Maranao Senator Sultan Alauya Alonto and sister of second Maranao elected Senator Ahmad “Domocao” Alonto Sr. and former Ambassador and first Lanao Sur Governor Abdulgafor “Madki” Alonto. AGM