In Lanao town, couple running for mayor against each other

SALVADOR, Lanao del Norte — The incumbent mayor here and her husband are running against each other for the same post.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) municipal officer Alauya Tago said Mayor Raida Langitao Tawantawan is seeking re-election under the banner of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Her husband, sultan Johnny Tawantawan, a former mayor of this town, is running against his wife as an independent candidate.

This early, political observers here would not hazard a guess on who will emerge a winner between the wife, who enjoys the equity of the incumbent, and the husband.

They also would not speculate on who will have the upper hand when it comes to resources or political machinery.

But the Tawantawan showdown in the mayoralty race was diluted a bit by the entry of a third candidate, Solaiman Mascari, who is running under the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

Neither Sultan Johnny nor his mayor wife explained why they are running for mayor of this predominantly Christian area.

Meanwhile, in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Comelec election officer Daraugina Cariga said incumbent Mayor Motalib Dimaporo, Vice Mayor Ronda Maruhom and eight municipal councilors all running under the Lakas-CMD banner, were the only candidates who filed certificates of candidacy by Jan. 5, the deadline for filing.

There were no other candidates from other political parties or running as independent who filed certificates of candidacy.