MANILA - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Sunday denied that she could influence the appointment of officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a statement, Mayor Duterte said several people approached her office to request for endorsements mainly due to rumors circulating that she has been given a hand in the selection of three BARMM posts.
"I categorically deny this and wish to reiterate that my authority is only within the area of Davao City as mandated by the Local Government Code," Duterte said.
She added that she has no influence either in the appointment of all other national government positions.
Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF), took his oath as interim chief minister of the 3-year transition government of the BARMM in February this year.
The autonomous region is seen as key to ending the decades-long rebellion in Muslim Mindanao that has left about 150,000 people dead.