The Iranun Development Council (IDC) composed of legislators and local government executives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Sunday endorsed the appointment of a bemedalled and multi-awardee Philippine National Police (PNP) officer, Senior Supt. Salik E. Macapantar, as police regional director of the ARMM’s Police Regional Office (PRO).

IDC officials led by its chairman Buldon Vice Mayor Alexander D. Tomawis said Macapantar, now PRO-ARMM deputy regional director for administration, and once served also as chief of staff in 2009 and deputy regional director for operations, “is a pride of the Iranuns as he hails from Buldon, Maguindanao.”

During his stint in Basilan as provincial director for three years, Macapantar, 52, received the Outstanding Achievement Medal, Outstanding Provincial Director, and Basilan under him as Best Provincial successively.

As this developed, the IDC issued Resolution No. 07 on July 16 for Macapantar's endorsement which was transmitted to Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

The IDC made the endorsement in case incumbent PRO-ARMM head Chief Supt. Bienvenido Latag is assigned elsewhere.

Aside from Tomawis, other signatories in the endorsement are ARMM Assemblymen Cahar P. Ibay and Abdulradzak D. Tomawis, Maguindanao Board Member Bocari M. Dagalangit, Parang Mayor Dr. Ibrahim P. Ibay, Matanog Mayor Hajji Nasser Imam, Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Datu Marshall I. Sinsuat, Barira Mayor Rocaya D. Tomawis, and Buldon Mayor Fatima Ruth P. Tomawis.

Since police officers from Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao had been assigned as PNP-PRO-ARMM regional director, the IDC believes this is the most opportune and right time for a qualified Iranun PNP officer to be given the honor of serving the residents of the ARMM, which is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

The IDC said that if appointed, Macapantar can surely promote stability, security and peace because of his sufficient knowledge of the various issues affecting public safety and security in a regional scope through the "Iranun Rescue Assistance" or IRA that would be community- and service-oriented agency.

As a provincial director of Basilan, Macapantar contributed in the campaign against terrorism, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.

He also handled the surrender of 80 commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

IDC was created in 2001 initially covering the towns of Barira, Buldon, and Matanog, then known as the Abubakar Complex. It later included Parang and Datu Blah Sinsuat towns.