Maguindanao del Sur dynasties vie for BARMM seats in upcoming polls

In Maguindanao del Sur, Philippines, members of prominent political dynasties are locked in fierce electoral contests for seats across the province's five parliamentary districts within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The province boasts 469,136 registered voters, with 224 voting centers spread across its 24 municipalities. Incumbent Governor Ali Musa Midtimbang's family has formed an alliance with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) for the 2025 local elections, a partnership that is influencing the current electoral landscape. Tawakal Midtimbang, a Member of Parliament and nephew of Governor Midtimbang, is contesting a seat in the first district. A relative of Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu, the last governor of the undivided Maguindanao, is also vying for a parliamentary seat in the fourth district. The following are the electoral races happening in the province’s parliamentary districts: 1st District: Midtimbangs, Guindulungan and Talayan aspirants The first district covers the towns of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Talayan, Guindulungan, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, and South Upi. BARMM Member of Parliament Tawakal Midtimbang is running for the first district seat. He is the bet of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Midtimbang is a former vice mayor of Guindulungan and the son of Datu Midpantao Midtimbang, a former member of parliament, former vice governor of Maguindanao and ex-mayor of Guindulungan. Datu Midpantao is the brother of former governor Ali Midtimbang. Tawakal is Ali’s nephew. Another Midtimbang is also running for the same position. Bobby Midtimbang is the first district bet of Al-Ittihad-Ungaya sa Kawagib Nu Bangsamoro (Al Ittahad–UKB) — the regional party of former Sultan Kudarat governor and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chairman Suharto Mangudadatu. Suharto is Mariam’s husband. Challenging the Midtimbangs is Mohammad Hassan Usop from Guindulungan, the representative of the Bangsamoro Empowerment and Social Transformation Party (BEST Party). The BEST Party is led by Bangsamoro Ministry of Public Order and Safety Director General Al-Rashid Balt. Independent candidate Edres Kasim from Talayan town is also vying for the parliamentary seat. 2nd District: Ampatuan and Islamic scholar The second district includes the municipalities of Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha. The electoral competition is between UBJP bet Saad Sindatok and Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) bet Sajid Andre Ampatuan. Sindatok is a former court interpreter and an Islamic scholar. He is the president of the Jamiat Cotabato and Institute of Technology. Ampatuan is the mayor of Shariff Saydona Mustapha and the son of former Maguindanao governor Sajid Islam Ampatuan who figured in several corruption scandals and was among the principals linked to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre. In December 2019, Ampatuan was acquitted in the murder of 58 people, including 32 journalists, in the Maguindanao massacre despite having prior knowledge of the murder plot. 3rd District: Engineer, ex-lawmaker, 2 Upams The third district consists of the towns of Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Mamasapano, and Shariff Aguak. Habbas Sabpa Camendan, an engineer with a master’s degree in public administration, is vying for the district’s parliamentary seat. Camendan is carrying the banner of the UBJP. Borgiva Tasmi Datumanong, the son of the late Simeon Datumanong, former Maguindanao 2nd District representative, is running as an independent candidate. Borgiva previously served as a provincial board member of Maguindanao. Former member of parliament Ali Balayman Sangki, the bet of the Al Ittahad–UKB, is also in the electoral race. Sangki is a former Maguindanao provincial board member and former executive director of the previously-named Office on Muslim Affairs (now the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos). Bangsamoro Party (BAPA), led by Bangsamoro Minister for Labor and Employment Muslimin Sema, is fielding Datu Edo Mamasapano Upam, a member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Upam’s father is Hadji Mohammad Upam, a former municipal councilor of Maganoy (now Shariff Aguak). Daud Baknal Upam, who is also from the prominent Upam clan, is running for the parliamentary seat. Daud is a former municipal councilor of Sharif Aguak and is the bet of the BFP in the third district. 4th District: Former village chief and Mangudadatu The towns in the fourth district comprises Buluan, Datu Paglas, Mangudadatu, and Pandag. BAPA’s candidate for the fourth district is Aladen Katog Delna, a former barangay chairman of Upper D’lag in Pandag. Delna is up against BFP bet DJ Parok Mangudadatu, the son of Buluan Mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu and the brother of Buluan Councilor Baby Dhats Mangudadatu. 5th District: Ex-mayor and former gubernatorial bet The fifth district consists of the municipalities of Pagagawan, General Salipada K. Pendatun, Pagalungan, Rajah Buayan, Sultan Sa Barongis, and Paglat. BFP bet Rafsanjani Pendatun Ali is going toe-to-toe with BAPA bet Nasser Guialal Dalgan for the district’s parliamentary seat. Ali is the former mayor of General Salipada K. Pendatun and the husband of incumbent General Salipada K. Pendatun Mayor Mielyn Ali. Dalgan, a resident of Sultan sa Barongis, ran for governor of Maguindanao but lost. In late August, the Comelec en banc canceled the certificate of candidacy (COC) of UBJP bet Anwar Salipada Alamada. According to Comelec, the candidate’s declaration of residency in his COC constituted false material representation. – Rappler.com