Nuño and his leadership in the Liga

It was a pre-scheduled Quarterly Assembly of the 98-member strong Liga ng mga Barangay of Zamboanga City, a duly recognized government organization of heads of the smallest political units in the Philippines. But it was more than timely, as it convened to discuss, among others, its stand against the then too controversial Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).

Whether it was to directly manifest support to the city's executive leadership, or to manifest its own will, the Liga had a common voice that was, on that very day, not too slow in stamping its firm objection to the inclusion of some six barangays covered under Annex A of the Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) of the Tripoli Agreement of 2001.

From an observer's point of view, the Liga remained strong and united under the leadership of Councilor Amman Abdurahman Nuño, and the respect he drew from each barangay chairman was most apparent that day.

Transparency in leadership—this probably could have been the best show of trust in the leadership of Nuño. While indeed his family draws so much respect from Muslims and Christians alike in Zamboanga City, his surname bears authority that transcends religion and class. Nuño however does have a strong following, but there are also others who believe he is just part of the classic political Sama clan who had long lived in the city, and that to them meant he just belongs to the traditional political class.

Nuño's clout in the Liga however defeats all these negative remarks from his detractors. His political stance remains welcomed if not cheered, and the public response to his short but well-worded address at the August anti-MOA signing rally proved more than what his detractors had said.

The Liga ng mga Barangay in Zamboanga City will always remain a strong force of community leaders for as long as Nuño heads the group, or at least, supports it. And this is what the national Liga realizes to this day. (Frencie L. Carreon)