COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) caretaker-Governor Mujiv Hataman swore in Tuesday his appointed Regional Cabinet members in what he described as pursuance of the commitment of the Aquino administration to reform the ARMM structure and operations.

Hataman presented his 12 appointees at a press conference here where he spelled out measures they had crafted to straighten and enhance the ARMM bureaucracy.

He, however, lamented public notion of the ARMM governance as a “milking cow” of unscrupulous officials, a problem he vowed to address squarely within his 18-month or so stewardship of the region.

Sworn into the ARMM Cabinet were Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman Jr. (Interior and Local Government), Jamar Kulayan (Education), Norkhalila Mambuay (Cabinet Secretary), Amihilda Sangcopan (Chief of Staff), Tess Maguindra (Trade), Engineer Emil Sadain (Public Works), Sangkula Tindick (Agriculture), Halim Mohhamad (Agrarian Reform), Muslimin Jakilan (Labor), Kahal Kedtag (Environment), Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. (Health), and Abdulmuin Pakan (Attorney-General).

Also presented at the press conference was Nash Maulana whom Hataman earlier appointed as director of the Bureau of Public Information.

Lucman and Sinolinding are retained in their respective slots. They were appointees of former ARMM acting Governor Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong.

Also retained was Social Welfare Assistant and acting Secretary Pombaen Karon-Kader, who was absent in the mass oath-taking rites.

Hataman said he did not appoint a Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) regional secretary in deference to a legal dispute pending before higher authorities.

The Civil Service Commission as well as the Department of Budget and Management recognize Director IV Pama Dimapanat as the rightful head of the ARMM’s DoTC.

He also pursued his appointment of people in the ARMM bureaucracy despite persistent legal arguments that an officer-in-charge (OIC) like him does not have the authority to do so.

Earlier, however, CSC Regional Director Resurreccion Pueyo told reporters that Hataman could appoint new personnel provided that his designation as OIC by the President contains a specific provision entitling him the power to do so.