Some of the massive attendees are shown below. (Credit: UBJP)
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-ODq
COTABATO CITY, May 10, 2025 (SDN) — United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) President Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim has revealed the “Magic 12” Senate candidates it has endorsed.
The Lucky 12 are:
1. #28 CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE “BONG” T. GO
2. #59 VICENTE “TITO” SOTTO III
3. #5 PAULO BENIGNO “BAM” A. AQUINO
4. #22 RONALD “BATO” DELA ROSA
5. #51 FRANCIS “KIKO” PANGILINAN
6. #38 RODANTE MARCOLETA
7. #61 FRANCIS “TOL” N. TOLENTΙΝΟ
8. #63 ERWIN TULFO
9. #18 PIA CAYETANO
10. #9 ABIGAIL “ABBY” BINAY
11. #39 IMEE MARCOS
12. #50 MANNY PACQUIAO
UBJP is the political wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which signed on March 27, 2014, the landmark Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAN) with the Government of the Philippines (GPH). The two previously warring parties forged the peace deal after 17 years of tumultuous and, often, protracted negotiations, but ultimately came to final shake hand, bringing peace and stability to Mindanao, in particular, and the country in general.
The UBJP formed in 2015 in anticipation of the formerly separatist organization’s throwing it’s hat in the political battlefield, counts as its top officials Bangsamoro Education Minister and Member of the Parliament (MP) Mohagher M. Iqbal, vice president for Central Mindanao and Executive Vice President; Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, secretary general; former BARMM MP Atty. Mary Ann M. Arnado, vice president for Settler Communities, and many others.
Macacua is MILF chief of staff while Iqbal is MILF chief negotiator and Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) chair, among other positions in the Mindanao peace process.
Ebrahim was the first and former BARMM chief minister from January 2019 to September 2025.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appointed Macacua to succeed him.
The first regular elections in the BARMM is scheduled on October 13, the parliamentary polls to elect the 80 Parliament members.
Parliamentary election was supposed to be synchronized with the 2015 National and Local Elections (NLE) on Monday, May 12, but the President approved the resetting for only five months.
The UBJP via Ebrahim released the names of the senatorial candidates the MILF is endorsing during today’s “Miting de Avancé” in the city.
It was also learned the UBJP also endorsed the “Ang Tinig ng Senior Citizens” Party-list (#97).
After the grand political event, the MILF-UBJP issued a statement about the endorsement signed by Ebrahim.
“The MILF and UBJP strongly call upon all its members, supporters and sympathizers within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and all over the country to vote and campaign for the aforementioned candidates,” the statement signed by Ebrahim says.
It can recalled the MILF-UBJP held a General Assembly and expansive “Miting de Avancé” in Camp Darapanan, Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, on May 7, attended by the MILF Central Committee, party leaders, and the candidates the UBJP endorsed in the various BARMM areas.
An estimated 150,000 attendees joined the activities, aimed at encouraging members of the MILF and the UBJP to intensity their support for the candidates the party officially endorsed. EDDKU (/)