People strongly endorse Atty. Franklin M. Quijano to serve as DILG Secretary

Atty. Franklin M. Quijano

Iligan City - Atty. Franklin M. Quijano or called by his friends FMQ, rooted from Lanao, born in Dansalan now Marawi City in 1955 and grown up in Iligan City where he gained his scholarship education in Iligan City and Cebu City and garnered scholastic achievements and awards. He can speak fluent Maranao but he speaks more in Bisaya and a little Lumad Higaonon dialect, a tri-people by himself. He is a Christian Roman Catholic faithful but a liberal thinker on interfaith. A practicing Lawyer, and Economist and a Professor in San Carlos University, Cebu City.

 

FMQ (right) with President Duterte (left)

As a politician, he was first elected into office as the number one city councilor of Iligan City in 1988-1992 and later on elected as the City Mayor of Iligan City in 1998 for two terms until 2004. He is a politician consistent in good governance practices guided on key principles on transparency and accountability. During his term he was adjudged, “The 2002 Most Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines, Local Government Leadership Award.”

Quijano became the Chairperson of Cagayan – Iligan Corridor (CIC), the coordinative body of the government in charge in the resolutions and project endorsements of the Laguindingan Airport as well as the Panguil Bay Bridge and other government initiated projects and infrastructures. He was also the Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII, responsible on the strong endorsement for the completion of important infrastructures including the Iligan- Bukidnon road and the Malabang – Tucoran – Pagadian road projects as well as other government projects and infrastructures.

As a peace advocate and peacebuilder, Quijano supported the inclusive Bangsamoro peace process within the civil society groups for the lasting peace in Mindanao. Activist in civil society peace advocacy by introducing the open space technology in conducting plannings and meetings. He conducted several conflict resolutions on “rido” among the Moro tribes in Lanao region and the Lumad Higaonon tribe in Rogongon and adjacent hinterlad Barangays in Iligan City, including the Christians communities on multi-dimensional approach with cultural sensitivity conflict transformation and management into peace.

As Negotiator, Quijano is the Chairperson of the GRP Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with RPM-M (2003-present); Chairperson, JEMC (Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee) implementing the RPMP-RPA-ABB Peace Agreement (2006-present)

As a statesman, Quijano is currently the Consultant to the Office of the President since August 2016 to present. He is a Consultant to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) since August 2016 to present. He was the Resource Person of the NATO Officers in the Federal Republic of Germany, re Conflict Transformation conducted on November 2, 2015 to November 12, 2015. A  Resource Person on Conflict Transformation Workshop for Civil Servants in eight (8) States and Regions in Myanmar conducted on May 2014 to January 2015 and Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (An INGO based in Siem Reap, Cambodia).

Quijnao is the Regional Party Chairman of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-LABAN for Region X and during the 2016 Presidential Elections, he was able to deliver the winning votes in landslide for Mayor Duterte of Davao City now the President of the Republic of the Philippines. He is a staunch advocate for the shift to Federalism one of the priority political agendas of President Duterte.

 

FMQ flocked with supporters

Quijano has the ability to orchestrate and coordinate multi-culture environment at appropriate times. He has the capacity to formulate plans, policies and programs for the department that can meet the requirements of the interior particularly the public safety and security sector as well as the empowerment of the local government units.

The multi-sectoral civil society groups including the media group and political leaders endorsed Atty. Franklin M. Quijano for position as the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to work with President Duterte in the Cabinet.

Quijano expressed his thanks to the strong support for the ambition of the people for him to serve as DILG Secretary. In his comment said he is ready to take the challenge but it’s up for President Duterte to give him the position or any position the President desires. He said the most important for the appointees will implement the marching orders of the President because from time to time President Duterte will come out with marching orders to serve the people effectively. He said presently, the marching orders of the President focused on anti-drug campaign, anti-corruption, anti-criminality, anti-terrorism including the campaign on Federalism. He said the DILG is the frontline in government service to implement almost all deliverables in the government.  

Atty. Franklin M. Quijano was called by many a man of discipline, integrity, civil servant, peacebuilder, educator, achiever and good politik practitioner. A highly qualified person fit to serve in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, as DILG Secretary. Reports by Jun Enriquez, photo courtesy from FB.