COTABATO CITY – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan has thrown his full support to Sulu 2nd District Rep. Munir Arbison in his bid to run as candidate for governor of Sulu in next year’s elections.

Ampatuan openly declared his support to Arbison in the presence of Senator Loren Legarda who graced the governor’s 5th State-of-the-Region Address (SoRA) at the jam-packed Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center here on Monday.

“He was the key person in Sulu who helped me win the regional governorship in 2001,” the ARMM governor, referring to Arbison, told the lady senator. “Now it is my turn to help him in his bid for the governorship of Sulu.”

Before Sulu’s political leaders who attended the SoRA, the regional head said, “We, Ampatuan and Arbison, are like brothers and nobody can come in between to separate us, especially during electoral exercises.”

Arbison was at the head of a huge delegation of Sulu political leaders to Cotabato City on Sunday, who came in a convoy of more than fifty vehicles to attend the SoRA of Ampatuan.

With Arbison were former Sulu Gov. Benjamin T. Loong; incumbent Vice-Gov. Lady Ann Sahidulla; Lugus Mayor Abdusali Asmadun; Tapul Mayor Nasser Daud; Tongkil Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla; Omar Mayor Hji Ahmad Omar; Luuk Mayor Allayon Arbison Jr.; Pangutaran Mayor Ahmad Nanoh and daughter Board Member Alnaida Nanoh;

Maimbung Mayor Najib Maldisa and daughter Board Member Nadzdalyn Maldisa; Caluang Mayor Al Razhmie Halun; Provincial Board Members Lynden Tulawie; Alganarham Adam; Nur Sitin and Musimar Alih; former board member Ahmad Onnih;

Former Mayor Al-Hussin Caluang; former Siasi Mayor Wilson Anni; former Pandami Mayor Frazdmer Ilaji; former Talipao Mayor Benhajar Tulawie; former Panamao Mayor Hji Bassal Abdurajak; Idil Baddiri, Chief of Staff of Rep. Yusop Jikiri and other village officials of different municipalities in Sulu.