The new Governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Dr Parouk Hussin, who was sworn in by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo along with Mahid Mutilan as vice governor, yesterday held out an olive branch to militants in the south.

"I will be a healing governor," said Hussin, who has sent a negotiator to talk with members of the forces loyal to Nur Misuari, outgoing chairman of the ARMM.

Hussin said he would initiate reconciliation with members of the pro-Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), but did not say he would negotiate with Misuari.

He said yesterday there could be no development without peace and called on rebels to lay down their arms and help build the impoverished south.

"I will ask them to return to the ARMM the firearms they took with them to Zamboanga del Sur. I have told them to stop their armed struggle, " said the medical doctor and former separatist militant leader.

He will be chief executive for the next three years of the ARMM, a patchwork of five mainly Muslim provinces which was the minority's reward for ending a 24-year rebellion in 1996. He led a 15-man MNLF Council, which ousted Misuari as MNLF chairman early this year.

"Effecting changes early on is our responsibility. This is a very challenging task before us. It's difficult. We call upon every one to actively participate in governance," Hussin said.

"The biggest challenge is peace and order because we cannot (implement) development unless we address the deterioration of peace and order," he told reporters, citing kidnappings by armed gangs in the area which include the Abu Sayyaf and the Pentagon.

Filipino and U.S. military officials say the Abu Sayyaf – which holds two Americans and a Filipino hostage in the island of Basilan – has links with Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect for the September 11 attacks in the United States.

"(The Abu Sayyaf problem) is being addressed by the military. Of course, the military is just one solution. We will also address the socio-economic aspect of the problem," Hussin said.

"The Pentagon is another criminal group. It has to be dealt with by the appropriate agencies," Hussin added.

Arroyo has said she plans to to pour development aid into the region and hopes to convince the private sector to follow suit.

The new governor said he had received congratulatory messages from the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the broker of the 1996 peace pact.

Asked if he considered Misuari and his armed followers as a threat to the ARMM, Hussin said: "To me there is no challenge from Misuari. There has never been any quarrel or split (between) us. It just so happens that some brothers, like brother Misuari, are not happy to leave their position."

He said the ARMM government would hold talks "not only with the renegade MNLF, but other radical forces in the area."