The Bar-ops and Greenhouse Session

The EC two day meeting kicked off by having all EC members trooping to De La Salle University to support AMIN's last of a series of 4 sundays Bar Operations (Bar Ops). For five years now, AMIN has been regularly conducting Bar Operations to give support to all Mindanaoan Bar candidates. Upon arrival from the airport, EC members went directly to the AMIN's Bar Ops Tent in Taft Avenue. The AMIN EC assisted AMIN NCR members and staff of AMIN's legislative Office of Representative Mujiv S. Hataman (ORMSH), who were fronting the Bar Ops, in welcoming and distributing lunch to Mindanaoan Bar candidates. AMIN member Pastor Al Senturias, Chairperson of the Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM), also took time visiting the AMIN Bar Ops tent. During this activity, The EC together with Rep. Mujiv S. Hataman and the EC meeting Secretariat made some preliminary discussions and finalized the arrangements for the EC meeting.   

After the Bar Operations, the EC members went to the Greenhouse Restaurant in Quezon City to officially start the EC meeting. The meeting was presided by President Moy Edding and started with a prayer. Afterwards he directed the Secretary General to make a roll call and determine the quorum.

After these preliminaries, the meeting officially started on the discussion on issues currently faced by the AMIN Party List. After thorough deliberation and presentation of facts and a chronology of events, the EC affirmed the earlier position taken by AMIN's National Council regarding the illegality of the supposed AMIN "4th Congress". The EC also reached a unified view regarding issues and allegations raised against leaders of AMIN as hearsays and malicious lies, cheap shots aimed at vilifying AMIN personalities. The EC concluded that AMIN as an organization does not have any problems. The persons involved in this vilification campaign are the ones creating the problems for AMIN. As such, the EC affirmed its Circular 01-07 and issued a resolution to simply ignore all the baseless accusations. Responding to it only gives the detractors of AMIN a reason to exist.

Upon invitation of the AMIN EC, Pastor Al Senturias of the MPPM attended a portion of the EC meeting. He made clear to the EC that his attendance to the meeting was in his personal capacity as a concerned AMIN member and not as an MPPM. Concerned about a seeming crisis of the organization, Pastor Al wanted to hear what the EC has to say about it. He was welcomed and clarified by all EC members on the issue about the illegality of the so-called AMIN "4th Congress." The EC members also explained to him the absurdity of the accusations hurled against leaders of AMIN and the rationale behind the issuance of AMIN Circular 01-07. Pastor Al thanked the EC for inviting him to the meeting and enlighthening him about the issues he was concerned about.

About this time, former officers and nominees of AMIN also arrived at the venue of the meeting. Although some of them are already based in Manila, but by sheer coincidence, others happened to be in Manila for their respective transcations in time for the EC meeting. The EC decided to invite them all to the meeting for an acquiantance fellowship. The evening of the first session of the EC meeting was capped by a happy reunion of sort between the old and new AMIN members and officials. Those who came were former Secretary General of AMIN, Sonny Plariza, former AMIN nominee, Atty. Ver Quimco, former Lumad Vice President and nominee, Deonato Moukodef, National Council member for the Lumad Council, Noel Maningula, AMIN Lumad member James Palao and other members of AMIN from Mindanao and Manila.

Meeting at the HOR

The Second Session of the EC meeting was held in the Office of Rep. Mujiv Hataman in the House of Representatives. For the first time in AMIN's history, AMIN's Executive Committee held its regular meeting in its own legislative office in the House of Representatives.It was also an oppurtunity for EC members to meet the legislative staff and get acquainted with the staff's legislative work.

Earlier on, Pastor Al made a visit to the ORMSH and discussed with Rep. Mujiv Hataman some legislative measures on the issue of Peace in Mindanao and a possible joint activity between the MPPM and AMIN. They agreed to conduct such activity and its specific details will be discussed soon.

The Execom tackled the second item of the agenda pertaining to priority legislations and advocacy work. AMIN's Chief of Staff, Amie Sangcopan gave a briefer on the ins and outs of legislative work and presented to the Execom AMIN's planned legislative agenda for the 14th Congress. The EC made suggestions and laid down some important legislative measures that AMIN should take in the 14th Congress.

Afterwards, the agenda on AMIN's organizational thrust was discussed. The EC discussed on the institutionalization of AMIN and on the new approaches to organizing. The EC agreed that as part of its institutionalization, an AMIN Organ will be published and issued on a quarterly basis to all AMIN formations. Likewise, the EC agreed to set-up an Organizational Department to oversee organizational development plans for AMIN. Party documents like its Basic Party Course, AMIN's History, On Organizing and others must also be published. The EC also deemed it necessary to make a review of all old Party documents.

As a final item of the agendum under Organizational thrust, the EC planned the launching of its National Congress the soonest time. The date, venue, participants, guests and program for the Congress were discussed by the EC. It was also agreed, following AMIN's constitutional mandate, that a National Council meeting will be held to deliberate and approve plans for the Congress.    

Later in the afternoon, the AMIN EC together with Atty. Ver Quimco and companions proceeded to the main Session Hall of the House of Representatives to witness a Congressional session. Yet another milestone in AMIN's history, the AMIN's Executive Committee was recognized and called one by one by the Majority floor leader and was formally welcomed to the House of Representatives by the presiding Speaker of the House.

Rep. Mujiv Hataman also gathered some of his closest allies in the House to personally go to the Gallery to meet AMIN's Executive Committee. Reps., Timmy Chipeco of the 2nd Dist. of Laguna, Bem Noel of An Waray Party List, Joel Villanueva of Cibac Party List and the newly elected Laguna 1st Dist. Representative, the actor Dan Fernandez, went up the Gallery and shook hands with the Execom members. Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan also followed to the gallery to personally greet the AMIN EC members.

Closing

The EC continued its meeting in the evening for evaluation. Everyone expressed that the meeting was a success. EC members said that it is only since the last National Council meeting till now that they have really felt their real worth as officers of AMIN. Free and democratic discussion is now being practiced within the AMIN leadership body and all issues and concerns are laid above board. Everybody shared the opinion that this free and democratic dynamism now experienced and practiced by AMIN leadership is the correct step in our efforts to rebuild AMIN party list.  

President Moy Edding officially closed the AMIN EC meeting. And, as the meeting was opened with a prayer, it was properly closed also with a prayer.  


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