Gandamra Dynasty Matriarch Dominates BARMM Parliamentary Race in Marawi

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Physician Princess Pala Gandamra, the matriarch of the Gandamra political dynasty, is enjoying an overwhelming lead in the race for the parliamentary seat of Marawi City and the first district of Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Gandamra has received 55,011 votes so far, according to 92.38% of total election returns as of Monday, September 14, 9:59 pm. Her closest competitor, Adbulrahman Taher, only has 7,239 votes. She is the candidate of Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo Party (SIAP), which is led by Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. A former legislator of Marawi’s City Council, Gandamra is known as the mother of Marawi Mayor Shariff Gandamra and Councilor Mohammad Shaquille Gandamra, and the wife of former Marawi mayor and incumbent Marawi Vice Mayor Majul Gandamra. The SIAP, together with the Bangsamoro Peoples Party and Al-Ittihad-Ungaya sa Kawagib Nu Bangsamoro, form the BARMM Grand Coalition, a regional political party headed by Abdulrahman Rubbil Sangki Mangudadatu. – Rappler.com