NEWS
17May
In photo-MILF/ UBJP officials Mohagher Iqbal, UBJP Vice President for Central Mindanao, MILF Chair and UBJP President Al Haj Murad Ebrahm, and UBJP Secretary General Sammy Gambar are instrumental in the victory of United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) candidates in the recently concluded National and Local elections
MILF fielded candidates score big wins in Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, and Cotabato City
- May 17, 2025
- Source from Rappler
- HITS: 1363
According to an online report by Rappler.com, on Friday, UBJP-backed candidates defeated erstwhile powerful political dynasties in the Maguindanao province.
In Maguindanao del Sur, former Talayan mayor Ali Midtimbang, the UBJP’s bet, beat Governor Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, garnering 157,177 votes against her 149,518, Rappler.com reported said.
Ustadz Hisham Nando – son of a late MILF leader and the Bangsamoro wali, who was Executive Director of Development Academy of Bangsamoro (DAB) prior to filing his candidacy secured the vice gubernatorial post with 163,176 votes, defeating former Mamasapano Mayor Mamasapano mayor Benzar Ampatuan, who received 133,415.
Former Maguindanao governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, also fielded by the UBJP, narrowly won the congressional race against reelectionist Representative Mohammad “Tong” Paglas.
Former Sultan Kudarat mayor Tucao Mastura and former Datu Blah Sinsuat mayor Marshall Sinsuat both won by landslides, securing over 100,000 votes each. Both ran under the UBJP.
Mastura and Sinsuat won the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial races.
The Rappler report described the loss as a blow to the political dynasty of Mariam and Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, which had dominated local politics in the now-defunct Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Their ally, Ainee Sinsuat, former vice governor of the defunct Maguindanao province, was Teng’s running mate in Maguindanao del Norte and lost the gubernatorial race,
Meanwhile, Cotabato City, the regional center of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was swept by UBJP candidates.
Reelectionist Cotabato Mayor Mohammad Bruce Matabalao won against his former ally, Vice Mayor Butch Abu, who had switched to the Lakas-SIAP party to challenge his second term. Abu is the son of the late Ghadzali Jaafar, former MILF vice chair for political affairs.
Vice mayoral candidate Johair Madag and the UBJP’s full city council slate also emerged victorious.
Governor Yshmael Sali of Tawi-Tawi and his son, Vice Governor Al-Syed Sali, both secured reelection by landslide margins against former congresswoman Ruby Sahali and her running mate, Algarad Lipae, the report said.
“I offer my hand in partnership with our rival political parties in the hope that we can collaborate together for a better Bangsamoro. Let us work hand in hand to realize the dreams of our people, to protect the gains of the peace process, and to ensure that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region remains a model of inclusive growth and sustainable development,” MILF chairman and former BARMM chief minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim said.
Time in Cotabato
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