COTABATO CITY – Various leaders welcomed the new officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and its appointed woman officer-in-charge (OIC) governor in Maguindanao, hoping the freshly installed officials could make the difference in the region and the crisis-torn province.

“He is young, clean and competent for the position. We are supportive of his (office) assumption,” Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said in a text message to the Manila Bulletin, in reference to acting ARMM Gov. Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong.

Tan alongside Governors Jum Akbar of Basilan, Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi and Mamintal Alonto-Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur attended the December 11 rites in Camp Crame, Quezon City, where Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno installed into office Adiong as acting ARMM governor.

Adiong succeeded ARMM Gov. Zaldy U. Ampatuan following his detention in connection with the November 23 massacre of 57 people including 30 journalists.

Meanwhile, various groups including the alumni chapters of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) have also hailed the reign of Adiong, saying he is a “fresh face with promising potentials” to steer the critics-laden ARMM governance to greater heights.

Few hours after assuming office, Adiong immediately appointed Maguindanao Board Member Nariman Ambolodto as OIC-vice governor to help him carry out his mission to “restore” normalcy in the province.