Abdulmunir Mundoc Arbison

Abdulmunir Mundoc Arbison
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Sulu's Second District
In office
June 30, 2001  June 30, 2010
Preceded by Asani Tammang
Succeeded by Nur-Ana Sahidulla
Personal details
Born (1957-11-12) November 12, 1957
Luuk, Sulu, Philippines

Abdulmunir "Munir" Mundoc Arbison is a Filipino politician who served three consecutive terms (2001–2010) as representative of Sulu Province's second congressional district in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). He was generally supportive of Philippine and U.S. operations against radical Islamic groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group and of peace efforts to resolve the conflict in Mindanao. His brother is Allayon M. Arbison Jr..

Background

Arbison was born on November 12, 1957 in Luuk to Abdurahman Arbison (Luuk mayor from 1998–2007) and Radzma M. Arbison (Luuk councilor and former president of the Association of Barangay Captains). His mother's family, the Mundoc, is a wealthy family in Luuk. He attended camp Andres elementary school, then Notre Dame of Jolo for high school. For college he attended Manuel L. Quezon University and was educated as a Civil Engineer.[1]

He is married to Hadji Maryam Napii Arbision, an entrepreneur who owns a rental car company in Zamboanga. He has 13 children and several grandchildren.

Political career

Arbison started his political career as an ally to the brothers Benjamin Loong and Tupay Loong. He made his way up in the engineering field, working successively as a civil engineer aide (1978–82) and civil engineer (1982–84) for the Ministry of Public Works and Highways in Jolo, during which time he consolidated his political access, influence and resources. He went on to become an assistant provincial engineer (1984–88), provincial engineer (1998-91) and finally district engineer (1991–2001) in Jolo during the term of Governor Habib Tupay Loong.[1]

Arbison grew to wield strong political influence within 10 of the 18 municipalities in Sulu, and at one point was believed to control approximately 34,000 votes focused in the area around Luuk. These votes were considered valuable currency in deciding the election of political posts in Sulu such as congressional representatives, vice governor, and governor. Over time he forged an alliance that ensured the Loong brothers of legislative victory, leading to the 2004 victory of Benjamin Loong as Governor of Sulu. However, in 2007 Arbison was believed to have switched alliances and supported Abdulsakur Tan; thus Benjamin Loong lost the election as governor, and Tupay Loong lost as first district congressman.

Because he had served three consecutive terms already, he became ineligible for the 2010 congressional election and yielded the seat to Nur-Ana Sahidulla. He ran for Governor of Sulu in the 2010 elections, gathering 48,837 votes, but lost to incumbent Sakur Tan.[2]

Support for Negotiations and Counterterrorist Operations

Arbison has been generally supportive of efforts to support peace in Sulu and counter radical Islamic groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group:

Business Interests

Arbison owns a shipping business that operates in Sulu and Zamboanga.

References

  1. 1 2 C.V., Hon. Munir M. Arbison. Congress.gov.ph "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  2. Sakur Tan re-elected governor of Sulu. GMA News, 05/16/2010. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/191093/sakur-tan-re-elected-governor-of-sulu
  3. Abu Sabaya ordered Martin Burnham killed - AFP. BusinessWorld, June 24, 2002.
  4. 17 of 18 Sulu mayors favor war exercises. BusinessWorld: April 24, 2003.
  5. Leaders rally behind MILF talks; GMA cites role of JdV,Malaysia,Libya, US in search for peace. Manila Bulletin: August 1, 2003.
  6. Manila Bulletin, February 27, 2004: Gov't neutralizes six Abu Sayyaf kidnap suspects; One of them identified as handler of US missionary Gracia Burnham.
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