COTABATO CITY (PNA) – The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) has lauded the appointment of Nariman “Ina” Abdullah Ambolodto as the new officer-in-charge (OIC) governor of Maguindanao, following the suspension of the province’s elected officials in the wake of the November 23 Ampatuan town massacre.

Ambolodto, an incumbent provincial board member, was appointed by Secretary Ronaldo Puno whose Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is the overseeing government institution over Maguindanao.

She is the first woman chief executive of the province since its creation.

“Board Member Ambolodto’s appointment is a welcome development from the continuing spate of bad news from the province,” said Amina Rasul, PCID lead convenor, in a statement.

“Maguindanao needs a fresh face at this point, someone whose professionalism and youth can change for the better the image and performance of ARMM,” she said.

Ambolodto represents the first district of Maguindanao in the provincial board.

She was the number one board member of the now defunct province of Sharif Kabungsuan and a former vice mayor of the municipality of Kabuntalan.

Former Sen. Santanina Rasul said aside from her electoral credentials, Ambolodto was the right choice to prove that women can also do what men can do in governance.

“Ambolodto’s appointment will aid in filling the current power vacuum in Maguindanao and help the province return to decent governance, rule of law and the strengthening of democratic institutions in the province,” said Rasul.

While praising Ambolodto’s appointment, the former lady senator, also chairperson of the “Magbasa Kita Foundation Inc,” said the newly appointed Maguindanao governor cannot do it alone.

“Ambolodto must be supported to effectively function as the OIC and not be treated as ‘a flower in a flower vase,’” she said.

Ismael Abubakar of Tawi-Tawi, former Speaker of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, said, “We congratulate the OIC Gov. Ambolodto whose ascension to the helm of the provincial hierarchy of the Maguindanao provincial government carries with her the mandate from her province mate being the elected senior board member.”

Abubakar, also a businessman, added, “There is no doubt that she can proceed with the kind of governance that her people have been longing for under an Islamic principle of governance in tandem with a democratic rule of law.”