Maguindanao governor, vice governor file COCs for reelection bid

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The governor and vice governor of Maguindanao on Thursday filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the same posts which they aspire again as tandem in 2016.

Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and Vice Gov. Lester Sinsuat were accompanied to the provincial office here of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) by relatives and mayors from different towns in the province.

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 are circulating since Monday purporting that Mangudadatu’s bid for a second term will be contested by a less powerful aspirant, Datu Ali Midtimbang of Talayan town.

A local radio station had said in a report Thursday morning Midtimbang will file his COC on Friday.

“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 subsequently reelected in 2013, where 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 member of the 24-seat Regional Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and as congressional representative of the 2nd district of Maguindanao, respectively.