COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Former Ambassador Macabangkit Lanto, one of three shortlisted aspirants for officer-in-charge (OIC)-governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has vowed to “detoxify” the ARMM governance from “transactional politics” by espousing the disqualification of appointed OICs from seeking elections as earlier assured by the Aquino administration.

Lanto, who has been strongly endorsed by ruling Liberal Party leader-Senator Franklin Drilon, assured that even if he would not be chosen as OIC-governor, he “can be of service to ARMM in whatever official or personal capacity” he holds.

Reports said the search committee, after screening some 70 aspirants and nominees to the slot for OIC-governor, has submitted lately a shortlist of three candidates from whom the President will choose his appointee as top caretaker of the 22-year-old autonomous region.

Included in the shortlist are Lanto, former Party-list Representative Mujiv Hataman of Basilan, and former Lanao del Sur Governor Saidamen Pangarungan.

When asked of his view, Lanto said: “I am not really concerned on who gets the OIC-governor. Whether I get it, Saidi, or Mujiv gets it is not very important. What counts most is whoever sits as OIC should concentrate on the reform agenda laid down by the President. He should not be distracted by politicking or preparing for the 2013 election.” (Joseph Jubelag)