The political landscape in the BARMM shifts as several political clans, including the Midtimbangs, Masturas, and Sinsuats, leave the Family Alliance of the Mangudadatus to join the MILF party
COTABATO, Philippines – As their local party of political dynasties faltered, members of the Mangudadatu family – each running for governor in three different provinces – have targeted Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. They accused him and Bangsamoro officials of corruption and of undermining alliances among political factions in the predominantly Muslim region.
Former Sultan Kudarat governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, his wife Mariam, and their son Pax Ali, accused Lagdameo of interference in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) politics and of allegedly siphoning funds from the region.
Teng has filed his certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao del Norte governor, while his wife Mariam, the acting governor of Maguindanao del Sur, is running for the province’s top post. Their son Pax Ali is Sultan Kudarat governor who is seeking reelection.
The sharp criticisms from the Mangudadatus came after the administration Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) formed an alliance with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The political landscape in the BARMM shifted when several political clans, including the Midtimbangs, Masturas, and Sinsuats, left the Family Alliance of the Mangudadatus to join the MILF party ahead of the filing of certificates of candidacy.
“You are like a leech. What do you really want to suck from BARMM?” a furious Mariam, addressing Lagdameo, told a press conference after she filed her COC on Tuesday, October 8
She criticized Lagdameo for “pitting family members and political allies against one another.”
Pax Ali called for Lagdameo’s resignation, accusing him of harassing and coercing local officials.
“We are calling for the resignation of SAP Anton Lagdameo. I hope he stops interfering in elections. He no longer represents the principles of unity the President stands for. He threatens to cut the wings of Sultan Kudarat,” Datu Pax Ali said.
His father Teng also questioned Lagdameo’s motives. “What is really your interest in BARMM, SAP Anton? Is it because you get a billion a month?” he asked.
He showed no proof of corruption, but Teng challenged Lagdameo to allow a mid-year audit of BARMM funds to check his (Teng’s) allegations of wrongdoing.
The Mangudadatus did not limit their criticism to Lagdameo; they also targeted South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., president of the PFP, the ruling party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Your group of contractors, SAP Lagdameo, is working with the contractors of Governor Tamayo,” Teng said.
Tensions escalated when Lagdameo convened a meeting at the Sotogrande Hotel in Davao City on October 6 with BARMM officials, Tamayo, and town mayors from Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
The meeting resulted in the selection of Tucao Mastura, the mayor of Sultan Kudarat town, as the PFP’s standard bearer for governor in Maguindanao del Norte, against Teng.
The meeting also determined that Ali Midtimbang, mayor of Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur, would run for the top post of the province against Mariam, alongside Ustadz Hisham Mando and former Maguindanao governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu for congressman.
In a joint statement, Lagdameo and Tamayo denied allegations of financial misappropriation in BARMM, calling the accusations “baseless” and “malicious.” They said the accusations made by Teng Mangudadatu’s family were intended to mislead the public.
Lagdameo said, “As the Special Assistant to the President, my role is to uphold transparency, accountability, and integrity in every aspect of my duties. The allocation and utilization of funds for BARMM follow legal, transparent processes designed to ensure that they are used exclusively for the development and inclusive growth of the region and its people.”
Tamayo added, “As Governor of South Cotabato and national president of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, my focus has been on building partnerships based on shared goals for the nation’s advancement. We do not engage in any tactics that undermine democratic processes or the political freedom of local officials.”
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim and other leaders in the region rejected the allegations, asserting that no coercion or harassment had occurred during the gathering of BARMM mayors in Davao City.
“These libelous claims are entirely fabricated and filled with ill-intent,” said Ebrahim.
Former BARMM senior minister and now acting Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua said, “How can we disburse a billion pesos when even a small amount like a hundred thousand requires extensive processes and approvals?” – Rappler.com
