BARMM polls: Hatamans seek 2 of Basilan’s 4 parliament seats

CEBU, Philippines – The Hatamans are seeking a larger foothold in Basilan’s delegation to the parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with a former governor’s son and nephew running for seats in two of the province’s four parliamentary districts. Former Basilan governor and now Vice Governor Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman’s son, Jimael Salam Datumanong Salliman, and nephew, Bangsamoro Transition Authority Member Abrar Hataman, are seeking seats in the fourth and third districts, respectively. If they win, the Hatamans would hold two of Basilan’s four parliamentary seats. Both are running under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), now led by BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who is himself running for a parliamentary seat in the third district of Maguindanao del Norte. The contest comes as Basilan heads into the BARMM elections with 248,248 registered voters, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) data as of May 8, 2026. Here are the candidates running in Basilan’s four parliamentary districts: 1st District: Lamitan leaders and MILF commander The first parliamentary district covers Lamitan City, where incumbent and former local officials are competing for the district’s seat. Lamitan Vice Mayor Hegem Cabrera Furigay is running under the Bangsamoro Peoples Party (BPP), led by former BARMM member of parliament Alzad Sattar. Furigay chairs the Hardam Furigay Colleges Foundation Incorporated and is the nephew of Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay. He is going against former Lamitan councilor Rima Hasim Hassan, the BFP candidate. Hassan is the founding president of the Mindanao Autonomous College Foundation Incorporated and the mother of Lamitan Councilor Ibrahim Hassan Jr.. Verjiv Flores Abdurahman, commander of the 114th base of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF), is also seeking the seat under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the MILF’s political party led by Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim. Abubakar Asalin Cutal, the Bangsamoro Party (BAPA) candidate, is also in the race. 2nd District: Ex-town officials, former deputy speaker’s son, and negotiator Former Basilan provincial board member and former Tipo-Tipo councilor Altun Tadjalla Angeles is an independent candidate in the second parliamentary district, which covers the towns of Tuburan, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Akbar, Al Barka and Tipo-Tipo. Also in the race in the second district is UBJP candidate and former Akbar municipal administrator Paisal Sali, whose relatives are the town’s mayor and vice mayor, Alih Sali and Raiza Sali-Sakkalahul, respectively. Former Tuburan municipal councilor Abdulsamie Kallahal, son of Tuburan Mayor Durie Kallahal, is campaigning under the BPP. Lawyer Khalid Ajul Hassan, son of former Bangsamoro deputy speaker Hatimil Hassan, is the BAPA candidate. The BFP, meanwhile, fielded peace negotiator Abbas Basang Salung, a former acting chairman of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), as its candidate for the seat. Tipo-Tipo resident Jaypee Jannatil Kinjing is also seeking the post as an independent candidate. 3rd District: Hataman nephew and Ungkaya Pukan native The race is between BAPA candidate Khan Hasalal, a resident of Ungkaya Pukan, and Abrar Hataman in the third parliamentary district, which consists of Ungkaya Pukan, Sumisip and Tabuan-Lasa. Hataman is an incumbent member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and a scion of the Hataman political clan. He is the nephew of brothers Mujiv Hataman and Jim Hataman-Salliman, Basilan governor and vice governor, respectively. His father, Juhan, is the brother of both the governor and vice governor. Hataman, a Yakan from Sumisip, is running under the BFP. 4th District: Jim Hataman’s son vs 3 bets The vice governor’s son is also in the race for a parliamentary seat in the fourth parliamentary district, which includes the towns of Maluso, Lantawan and Hadji Muhtamad. A lawyer and former Basilan provincial board member, Jimael Salam Datumanong Salliman is running under the BFP. He is running against BPP chairman and former BARMM member of parliament Alzad Sattar, Lantawan resident and BEST party candidate Pendatun Mohamad, BAPA candidate Monar Ibno, and MILF Joint Action Group (JAG) leader Omar Gapor Muallam, who is running under the UBJP. – Rappler.com