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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
MANILA, October 6, 2024 (SDN) — And the die is cast, so to speak, the Rubicon has been crossed.
Regional and local political rivals the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) headed by its president, Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the Serbisyong Inklusibo — Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) Party led by its president, Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mohammad Khalid Adiong, are now set to battle it out for the Bangsamoro region and Cotabato City’s leadership.
But don’t forget, there’s Team Guiani of the NPC led by lawyer Cynthia Guiani, former mayor of Cotabato City, her complete slate had also filed their COCs already.
In the meantime, as filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in the regional political exercise for the 80 positions of Members of the Parliament (MPs) in the Bangsamoro region is yet to start on November 4, the filing for COCs in the Cotabato City race has kicked off at the same time with the national level on October 1.
SIAP bets for the city race were the first to file their COCs, information from a stalwart of SIAP, lawyer Naguib G. Sinarimbo, showed.
A former head of the BARMM’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), Sinarimbo said SIAP bets filed their COCs on October 3 after days of discernment and intense preparation.
He said the slate that SIAP has fielded is comprised of “experienced leaders with proven track record in the government, law, public service, and advocacy for the coming 2025 elections.”
City political exercise seen to be hotly contested
Sinarimbo introduced SIAP’s complete slate for the city led by Vice Mayor Johari “Butch” Abu for Mayor, Datu Bimbo Ayunan for Vice Mayor, and the Councilors such as Abdulrakim “Gabby” Usman, Henjie Ali, Sukarno “Suk” Sema, Atty. Abubakar “Bobby” Katambak, Norhassim “Duds” Sinarimbo, Freddie Ridao, Baby Ayunan, Hunyn Abu, Kusin “Kus” Taha, and Marouf “Pabo” Pasawiran.
Abu, the incumbent vice mayor, is a son of the late Ghazali Jaafar, the highly respected Central Committee member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as head of its Political Affairs.
Meanwhile, the UBJP slate for the city race filed their COCs on October 5 led by incumbent Mayor Bruce Matabalao for his re-election, Kap. Johair Madag for Vice Mayor, and the party’s Councilors, namely, Popoy Formento, Elyboy Midtimbang, Kap. Mohamad Mangelen, Atty. Anwar Malang, Michael Datumanong, Faidz Edzla, Cap. Joven Calling, Kap. Jonas Mohammad, Datu Raiz Sema, Bye Shalimar Candao.
Team Guiani’s lineup is composed of Cynthia Guiani for mayor, Japal “JayJay” Guiani, while bets for councilor are Dr. Danda N. Juanday, Dr. Eduardo ‘Ed’ Rabago, Romeo Lidasan, Henry Macion, Sukarno Utto, Hervy Emberga, Dumugkao Mangelen, Ostoy Sekak, Moksal Amin Lokua, and Sanggunian Kabataan Chair Shamir S. Santiago.
Team Guiani did not personally appear at the Comelec for the COC filing to prevent inconveniencing the residents of the city. Lawyer Jarissa Guiani, former city administrator, did it for the slate.
She made it clear that Cynthia Guiani is not abandoning her protest against the incumbent mayor.
UBJP is the political wing of the MILF, which formally transformed into a social movement on September 23 during the Consultative Meeting and General Assembly (CMGA) at Camp Darapanan, Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. Over 300,000 attended the first day of the two-day event organized by the UBJP.
SIAP, on the other hand, is part of the coalition of regional parties called the Bangsamoro Grand Alliance (BGA).
Cotabato City, commercial center of the Bangsamoro region, is a now a first class city with a population of over 354,000 in 2024 according to Google. Its registered voters in the 2020 elections totaled 120,221. It’s an independent component of the BARMM, though within Maguindanao del Norte.
The Bangsamoro region is comprised of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area (SGA) with eight new municipalities.
Recent assemblies and rallies of UBJP and SIAP have attracted huge crowds. Regional political observers opined that the trick is how to convert these crowds of people into voters for either side. (/)
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This story was updated to show that Cotabato City has already achieved a first class status, joining other first class cities in the Philippines. Info from Samson Gogo, a City Hall staff.