This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua seeks to represent one of the four districts allotted to the province in the BARMM parliament
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for representative of one of his province’s parliamentary districts on Saturday, November 9, just before the deadline set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Macacua, appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as officer-in-charge of Maguindanao del Norte’s provincial government in 2013, was accompanied by relatives and supporters as he submitted his candidacy papers at the Comelec provincial office in Cotabato City shortly before the close of the six-day filing period.
He seeks to represent Maguindanao del Norte’s 3rd district in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament. The province holds four seats in the regional parliament.
Macacua filed under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which seeks to retain control of the BARMM parliament.
The 67-year-old Macacua, who once went by the nom de guerre Sammy Gambar, served as the commander of the MILF’s armed wing during its decades-long struggle, which concluded with a peace agreement during the administration of the late president Benigno Simeon Aquino III, leading to the establishment of BARMM in 2019.
A native of Mother Kabuntalan in Maguindanao del Norte, Macacua served as BARMM’s senior minister, and environment and energy minister from 2019 to 2022. He also held roles as a commissioner on the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and as a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
Macacua’s appointment as OIC-governor in 2013 surprised many, including himself – he said never even dreamt of holding such an office.
Initially, his appointment faced opposition from Mariam Mangudadatu and Ainee Sinsuat, elected governor and vice governor, respectively, of the now-defunct Maguindanao province.
The province was subsequently divided into two provinces, with Mangudadatu later appointed governor of Maguindanao del Sur and Sinsuat, who assumed she would lead Maguindanao del Norte, named vice governor under Macacua.
Mangudadatu’s husband, Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, is now seeking the gubernatorial post in Maguindanao del Norte, which Macacua will vacate in 2025, while Sinsuat is seeking the province’s gubernatorial post.
Earlier, the Mangudadatus’ BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) filed its manifestation of intent to participate in the region’s first parliamentary elections.
The Mangudadatu couple’s son, Abdulrahman Rubil Mangudadatu, leads the coalition’s efforts to win seats in the BARMM parliament.
The coalition presented the Comelec a list of 40 nominees, accompanied by a certificate of acceptance of nomination and an affidavit of non-affinity. – Rappler.com
