Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu on Monday pledged PHP1.5-million worth of funds for the women police officers’ cooperative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM).

“(This) is in support of women’s development in the police organization,” said Mangudadatu, who was guest of honor and speaker during the opening program for the National Women’s Month by the Police Regional Office–BARMM at Camp S. K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao.

PRO-BARMM chief, Brig. Gen. Marni C. Marcos Jr. said the activity aims to recognize the women’s vital contributions in nation-building through the police service.

Mangudadatu and Marcos led the awarding of plaques to Patrolwoman Cristina Acosta, Patrolwoman Jocelyn Millan, Patrolwoman Sharon Puno, M/Sgt. Marcilita Rodrigo, M/Sgt. Nur Aina Abdulkarim and M/Sgt. Noria Karim for displaying exemplary devotion to police work in the region.

“To systematize women’s role in the society and to instill in them that in every walk of life it is not wrong to be unapologetically being ourselves,” said Mangudadatu, herself the first-ever lady governor of Maguindanao.

“Now the province has a female executive, a leader with iron fists of a man and a soft heart of woman, a visionary of change and sustainable development and an advocate of peace and reconciliation,” she said.

Marcos described Mangudadatu as a perfect epitome of an empowered woman who contributes to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

“The support shown by the governor is surely appreciated and highly-recognized by the PRO-BARMM,” he said. Sangki-Mangudadatu is the wife of Governor Suharto Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat, a neighboring province to Maguindanao. (PNA)