COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The governor and vice governor of Maguindanao filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) yesterday, seeking reelection.
Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and Vice Gov. Lester Sinsuat were accompanied to the Commission on Elections provincial office here by their relatives and mayors from different towns in Maguindanao.
At least 34 of Maguindanao’s 36 mayors belong to the ruling Liberal Party (LP), under whose banner Mangudadatu and Sinsuat will seek reelection.
Mangudadatu is Maguindanao’s LP provincial chapter chairperson.
Stories have been circulating since Monday purporting that Mangudadatu’s bid for a third term will be contested by Datu Ali Midtimbang of Talayan town.
A local radio station reported yesterday morning that Midtimbang will file his COC today.
“I will not feel bad if my candidacy for a third term will be challenged by an interested party. We are espousing political democracy in Maguindanao and political opposition also helps promote governance,” Mangudadatu said.
Mangudadatu first ran for governor of Maguindanao in 2010 and was re-elected in 2013, wherein he defeated with an overwhelming vote-lead contender Tucao Mastura, former mayor of Sultan Kudarat town in the first district of Maguindanao.
Sinsuat was Mangudadatu’s running mate in 2013.
Mangudadatu’s younger siblings, Khadafeh and Zajid, are also seeking reelection as a member of the 24-seat regional assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and as the congressional representative of the second district of Maguindanao, respectively.