Biography

A former Speaker of the Regional Legislative Assembly and also a Convenor of Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy.

Ismael Bederi Abubakar, Jr was born to a political family of Jolo Sulu, the Abubakars’ and the Rasuls’ and is the great grandson of the first Muslim senator, educator and respected religious leader Senator Hadji Butu. Mr. Ismael Abubakar, Jr. was born an orphan deprived of the earthly blessing to see his father upon his birth. His mother, Hadja Darwisa Sharifa Bederi Abubakar, a native of the municipality of Simunul, province of Tawi-Tawi, and the eldest daughter of Habib Abubakar Bederi, an Arabian missionary, raised the young Ismael in Tawi-Tawi with utmost care and devotion.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree from the University of the East, Manila, in 1972, and equipped with managerial ability meritoriously obtained from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in 1976, Pochong, as Ismael is popularly called, was tapped to head the Small Business Advisory Center (SBAC) of Region IX which gained him prominence for his excellent stewardship. He was also an active leader of noted civic organizations and thru relentless drive, enduring patience and dedication became a successful businessman.

Determined to bring tunnel of deliverance to his people and vision to infuse developments to his depressed province, he participated in the local election of 1988 as candidate for Vice Governor in the province of Tawi-Tawi under the opposition party. Despite the inadequate financial preparation, absence of political organization and strong leaders supporting his candidacy, Pochong, banking sorely on the virtuous and honored name of his family, came out victorious against the administration bet. Thereafter, as the lone opposition leader in the provincial hierarchy negated of the power and the fiscal budget to help his depressed constituents, he tried again his fortune as candidate for the Assembly in the first election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 1990. With his name now a by-word in Tawi-Tawi politics, Pochong triumphantly topped the race from among the numerous contenders. And against all odds, he was eventually elected the first Speaker of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA). Indeed, this was considered a rare feat in the annals of a parliament wherein the Speaker of a legislative body came from the camp of the opposition.

Onward to his colorful political career, with the annual seed money assistance from the national government, Speaker Abubakar funded the constructions of several tangible projects spread in the 11 island municipalities of Tawi-Tawi such as gymnasium, children’s park, roads, rock causeways, footbridges, flea markets, solar dryers and water tanks.. He likewise steered the Assembly in the enactment of landmark legislations and principally authored the passage of the Regional Local Government Code of the ARMM. These were his legacies remembered thru generations by his constituents.

In the 1993 and  2001 ARMM electoral exercises, he submitted himself for reelections and easily won a seat as member of the 24-man Regional Assembly in ARMM. With his convincing victories, he gained the respect of his peers and other regional and national leaders. His phenomenal rise in politics had accorded him a monumental place in ARMM history as the only legislator, during his stint, elected three (3) times Speaker of the Regional Legislative Assembly, which is the highest policy making body in the autonomous region.

But like any other political figure and ordinary mortal, Pochong experienced the rise and fall in his political career. With electoral fraud and manipulative schemes aimed at suppressing his rising popularity, he tasted defeat. Notwithstanding his political setback, with his established credible leadership and untarnished image, by and large, he still enjoys the respect and support of his constituents. And this was proven once again when he recently bannered the landslide victory of President Noynoy Aquino in the province of Tawi-Tawi.

The personality of Pochong traversed beyond his political path. With his acknowledged managerial skill and business acumen, he was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board of the Seaweeds Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) from year 2000- 2010. He has also a well-entrenched foreign connections and exposures. His roots, the Badahda family, ancestor of the Abubakars of Sulu, originated from Hadramaut in Yemen. From his maternal side, the Bederis of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are considered as among the guardians of the Holy Mosque in Medina. His business associate, Ade Nasution, was a member of the Indonesian Parliament. His brother in-law, Datuk Hji Hassan Alban Sandukong, was the Speaker of the State Parliament of Sabah, Malaysia for more than a decade. Pochong had been to many foreign countries as official representative of the autonomous regional government and in his personal capacity as businessman.

The world is watching with keen interest that a new government under the administration of President Noynoy Aquino would bring dramatic changes in governance, policy directions, fiscal discipline, economic recovery, investment climate and other equally important concerns in order for this country to move forward. The peace process that will ultimately give fulfillment to long years of yearning for lasting peace to reign in Mindanao is expected to be given primordial consideration. Likewise, the choice for rightful leaders to lead also be carefully addressed.

With the rigor and difficult task in undertaking the organizational set-up in order to bring a new image and craft for the present administration, the president surely needs all the help to achieve and realize his dreams and commitments for this country and its people within the next 6 years of his term in office. Former ARMM Speaker Abubakar Jr is humbly offering his vast experience in public service, management and administrative skills in local governance, foreign connections and exposures, and untarnished credibility among his peers and regional constituents.

(From FB Group “TRY THE TAWI-TAWIAN LEADERSHIP IN ARMM“)