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The political families Midtimbangs, Masturas, and Sinsuats bolt from the Maguindanao provinces’ ‘Family Alliance’ to the party of the MILF
DAVAO, Philippines – The BARMM Grand Alliance (BGC) suffered a major setback after three of its four founding political clans left the coalition in the two Maguindanao provinces and threw their support behind the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The Family Alliance-BGC was established by the political families of Maguindanao del Sur Governor Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu and former Sultan Kudarat governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, Ali and Antao Midtimbang, Tucao Mastura, and the Sinsuats of Maguindanao del Norte.
The well-entrenched political clans were key members of the BGC, until three – the Midtimbangs, Masturas, and Sinsuats – agreed to unite with the UBJP.
On Sunday night, dozens of incumbent local chief executives and prospective candidates for the UBJP convened in Davao City for a meeting with Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) chairperson and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al Haj” Ebrahim, and Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua.
As a result, the UBJP officially declared Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte Mayor Tucao Mastura as their standard bearer for the governorship of Maguindanao del Norte.
For Maguindanao del Sur, the UBJP will field Ali Midtimbang, the father of Vice Governor Nathaniel Midtimbang, for governor. Ali’s running mate is Hisham Nando, son of the late BARMM Wali Sheikh Khalipa Nando.
Former Maguindanao governor and 2nd District representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu will run for Congress in Maguindanao del Sur under the UBJP..
The congressional and vice gubernatorial bets for Maguindanao del Norte have been contentious. Ebrahim said they agreed to allow Representative Dimple Mastura and former representative Sandra Sema to fight for the position under the UBJP. It’s going to be a “free zone.”
He said the same applies to Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Marshall Sinsuat and former Vice Governor Ainee Sinsuat who would run against each other for Maguindanao del Norte’s vice gubernatorial post.
The Sinsuats were the last of the political families to join the UBJP, having been previously seen in pre-COC filing activities with Mariam Mangudadatu’s group.
“We are very thankful. We worked hard for this. Our goal is moral governance, to unite our leaders,” said Maguindanao del Norte Governor Macacua.
Macacua said he stepped aside in the Maguindanao del Norte race for the sake of unity.
“Alhamdullilah, we are grateful to Allah, the President, and the trust of our fellow leaders to lead Maguindanao del Norte,” he said.
Maguindanao del Sur Governor Mangudadatu filed her certificate of candidacy on Monday morning, October 7, with former Mamasapano Mayor Benzar Ampatuan as her running mate, instead of her initial pick, Nathaniel Midtimbang.
Her husband Suharto has already filed his COC but has yet to announce his running mate. Until the Sinsuats’ move to join the UBJP, Suharto was expected to pick Ainee Sinsuat as his running mate. – Rappler.com
