On separate occasions, Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List Representative Mujiv Hataman personally supervised the turn over of chairs donated by his office to the Madaris (plural for Madrasah - an Arabic and Islamic School for Children)of Baseco Community in Tondo Manila and the Kalagan Mosque in Maharlika Village in Taguig City.

Rep. Hataman said that one of his important concerns is to look after the the welfare of AMIN's constituents in Metro Manila, particularly the Muslim communities. Among various Mindanaoans scattered in Metro Manila, it is the Muslims that has a defined, concentrated and compact communities. Muslims coming from Mindanao also comprised the bulk of the Mindanaoan population in Metro Manila. It is also the Muslims and their communities in Metro Manila that suffers the brunt of discrimination, neglect and violations of human rights.

Most of the Madaris around Metro Manila receive minimal support from the local government, if any. Like their Mosques, maintenance of these schools depend largely on support coming from the community itself, private benefactors and non-government organizations. This situation prompted Rep. Hataman to provide support, even in a small degree at least, if only to ease the worries of the parents and give comfort to the children in their schooling.

On March 1, 2008, without fanfare, Rep. Hataman turned over the chairs to the community leaders, Imam of the mosque and teachers of the Madrasah in Baseco, Tondo. Likewise, on March 9, 2008, in Madrasahtol Daawatol Islamiya in the Kalagan Mosque located at 14 Barracks street Maharlika Village, Taguig city, the chairs were received by their Imam Ustadz Abdul Karim Aharad and their administrator, Halil Sacatan. Students of the Taguig Madrasah presented Rep. Hataman with their rendition of an Arabic song, in token of their sincere gratitude over his concern and support to their Madrasah.

Click here to view more photos of the Turn over at Taguig

Click here for the Baseco Turn over photos

 (March 5, 2008) Members of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List - NCR Chapter and BANGSA - MMR held a picket rally in front of the National Office of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City.

The group held the picket rally to demand the Commission on Human Rights to heed the result of the probe and recommendations forwarded by the CHR Western Mindanao Office regarding the Maimbung, Sulu Massacre. In their joint statement, AMIN-NCR and BANGSA-MMR, reiterated the demands of the CHR Western Mindanao Office calling for the immediate filing of criminal and administrative case against those involved in the massacre of eight civilians which includes a pregnant woman and two children. The group also expressed their apprehensions for a cover-up of the case as the AFP Western Mindanao Command had already cleared the soldiers involved in the massacre.   

The group made a short program on the grounds of CHR while a panel coming from their ranks were invited inside to have a dialogue with the CHR. As there were no Commissioners available at that time, the AMIN-BANGSA panel was instead met by lawyers of the CHR in the person of Atty. Homer Rusiano and Atty. Atillano. The AMIN-BANGSA panel forwarded their demands to the CHR lawyers. After a discussion of the case, both panels agreed to a proposal made by the CHR lawyers that the CHR will conduct a high profile dialogue and discussion which will include the following:  WESMINCOM Chief Lt.Gen.Nelson Allaga, the Massacre Survivors, CHR Western Mindanao Director, Atty. Jose Manuel Mamauag, Congressman Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party list, Sulu Congressmen Yusop Jikiri and Munir Arbison , Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List, BANGSA and other Civil Society groups the CHR, AMIN and BANGSA would wish to invite. The picket rally dispersed peacefully after the panel meeting.

Click here for the AMIN-BANGSA Joint Statement

Click here to go to BANGSA Gallery for More Photos