Ex-Mayor Secures BARMM Seat Amidst Candidate Disqualification in Maguindanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Former General Salipada K. Pendatun mayor Rafsanjani Pendatun Ali is now assured of victory in the 5th District of Maguindanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, as his opponents were either disqualified or withdrew from the race. Ali, running under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party led by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, garnered 42,335 votes, representing 57.46% of the total election returns as of September 14, 7:44 PM. One of Ali's former rivals, Nasser Guialal Dalgan of the Bangsamoro Party, officially withdrew from the race just before the polls closed. The Bangsamoro Party is affiliated with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and is led by Bangsamoro Minister for Labor and Employment Muslimin Sema. Dalgan has secured 25,460 votes so far, which will be considered stray votes. Anwar Salipada Alamada, another disqualified candidate, also has 231 votes, which are also considered stray. Alamada was the bet of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) United Bangsamoro Justice Party but his candidacy was canceled months before the elections due to allegations that he is not a resident of the district he was running for. An appeal against his disqualification is still pending before the Supreme Court, according to the UBJP. This election highlights the complex political landscape within the BARMM, where candidate eligibility issues can significantly impact the outcome. The involvement of parties linked to major armed groups like the MNLF and MILF further underscores the region's unique political dynamics.