Hussein, Paglas seen to slug it out in ARMM

COTABATO CITY — Leaders in the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) expect only two of six gubernatorial aspirants — administration candidate Farrouk Hussein and Datu Ibrahim Paglas III — to slug it out in the region’s Nov. 26 polls.

Hussein, an ethnic Tausog, is a member of the Council of 15, the new central leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Paglas belongs to a big political clan in the second district of Maguindanao.

Datu Michael Sinsuat, a scion of a known political clan in the first district of Maguindanao, said they are certain that all of Maguindanao’s 21 mayors will support Paglas who, like them, is an ethnic Maguindanaoan.

Sources from the Catholic community in Sulu said Hussein will likely get the backing of Sulu Gov. Yusoph Jikiri, who is also a member of the MNLF’s Council of 15.

Sulu has more than 300,000 registered voters, about half of whom are residents of eight vote-rich towns controlled by the so-called "Magic Eight," a group of eight influential Tausog leaders, among them former governor Tupay Loong, older brother of Paglas’ running mate, Benjamin Loong.

"What could possibly happen in the island-province and all its surrounding island-towns is that the total voting population may be split into two, one-half voting for the Paglas-Loong tandem, the other favoring Hussein and his running mate," said a member of the Dominican congregation.

The source, who requested anonymity, said it is likely that remaining followers of Gov. Nur Misuari in the province will campaign against Hussein, convenor of the group of MNLF leaders who ousted Misuari as the front’s chairman last April due to loss of trust and confidence in his leadership.

Hussein’s running mate is Islamic preacher Mahid Mutilan, governor of Lanao del Sur from 1992 to June 30 this year.