Ex-vice governor secures Maguindanao del Norte 4th District parliament seat

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Former Maguindanao del Norte vice governor Abdulnasser Maliga Abas has won the race for the province’s 4th District in the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections. The Commission on Elections proclaimed Abas as the winning candidate at 2:20 pm on Tuesday, September 15, a day after the landmark polls. He received 48,965 votes. The former vice governor ran under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party or UBJP, the party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front led by Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, the MILF’s chairman. Abas’ closest competitor was former Maguindanao 1st District representative Bai Sandra Ampatuan Sema, the bet of the Bangsamoro Party. Other defeated candidates are former Upi municipal councilor Alexander Petalcorin Agustin, the bet of the Bangsamoro Empowerment and Social Transformation Party, and independent candidate Jashriya Sema Dilangalen. Abas’ victory is a blow to the attempt of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) to secure seats in the province. Maguindanao del Norte is the bailiwick of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, who is president of the BFP. Macacua previously served as acting governor of Maguindanao del Norte. – Rappler.com