Of 36 Maguindanao towns, 8 have unopposed mayoral and vice mayoral bets

by Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews Monday, 08 February 2010 16:06

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/07 Feb) – There are eight of 36 towns in Maguindanao where candidates for mayor and vice mayor are running unopposed; of the eight, five towns have an entire slate of candidates – for mayor, vice mayor and eight municipal board members – running unopposed in the elections on May 10, records from the Commission on Elections show. The towns of Ampatuan, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Guindulungan, Mangudadatu, Sultan Mastura and Sultan Mastura have unopposed candidates for mayor and vice mayor.

The sure winners represent Maguindanao’s clans – the Ampatuans, Mangudadatus, Masturas, Midtimbangs, Sinsuats, Sangkis.

In Ampatuan town, incumbent mayor Datu Zacaria Simpal Sangki and Datu Rasul Mabang Sangki are running unopposed for mayor and vice mayor, as Independents. Datu Zacaria is the incumbent mayor.

In Datu Anggal Midtimbang, incumbent mayor Nathaniel Sangacala Midtimbang is running for mayor while Ebrahim Musa Midtimbang is running for vice mayor. Both are running under B.Bayan-VNP.

In Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, incumbent mayor Bongbong Midtimbang Ampatuan, wife of detained ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, is running for mayor while Abdulamanap Saliguidan Malaguial is running for vice mayor, unopposed.

Datu Hoffer is one of three new towns created last year. Bongbong Midtimbang Ampatuan was appointed acting mayor of the town by her husband, Datu Zaldy. Under the ARMM, the power to appoint OICs lies in the ARMM governor. The two other new towns are Datu Salibo and Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Datu Zaldy named two more relatives as acting mayors – Datu Akmad B. Ampatuan for Datu Salibo and Bai Zandria S. Ampatuan for Shariff Saydona. Datu Akmad and Bai Zandria are running for mayor in the two towns, but Datu Akmad is facing three opponents while Bai Zandria is running against one opponent.

In Datu Odin Sinsuat, Lester Seismundo Sinsuat and brother Sajid Seismundo Sinsuat are running unopposed for mayor and vice mayor under B.Bayan-VNP.
In Guindulungan, Datu G. Midtimbang Midtimbang and Baicong Amolan Midtimbang are also running unopposed for mayor and vice mayor

In Mangudadatu town, incumbent mayor Freddie Gaguil Mangudadatu and Prince M. Mangudadatu Dilangalen are also running unopposed for mayor and vice mayor under Lakas-Kampi.

In Sultan Kudarat town, Tucao Ong Mastura (LP) and Shajida Biruar Mastura (Lakas-Kampi) are running unopposed for mayor and vice mayor.
In Sultan Matura town, incumbent mayor Armando Talusan Mastura (NPC) and Mustapha Budian Abdulwahab (Lakas-Kampi) are running unopposed for mayor and vice mayor.

Three towns have unopposed candidates for vice mayor: Mohammad Powers Paglas (B.Bayan-VNP) in Datu Paglas town; Genuine Piang Kamaong, Jr., in Datu Piang, and Sukarno Musa Midtimbang (B. Bayan-VNP) in Talayan.

The five towns with a complete slate running unopposed are the towns of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Midtimbang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Guindulungan, and Mangudadatu towns.

The eight unopposed bets for councilor in Datu Anggal Midtimbang are Said Kayog Abag, Daud Namil Guiama, Salipada Sabang Kayog, Lubatan Akad Lampay, Aladin Sinsuat Mentang, Abdulkarim Panalangin Mohamad, Kuro Saban Salim and Sandiale Indal Sultan. All are running under B.Bayan –VNP.

In Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, the unopposed bets for councilor are Bai Noraila K Midtimbang Ampatuan, Datu Khalid Sandag Ampatuan, Norodin Lakman Ampatuan, Datukan Undag Dukay, Macapagl Silongan Kamendan, Salunda Kam Kusan, Kasim Dadoy Omar and Eljean Tomas Unas, all running as Independents.

Bai Noraillah Kristina Midtimbang Ampatuan, 20, is the eldest child of incumbent mayor Bongbong Midtimbang Ampatuan and Datu Zaldy Ampatuan.

In Datu Odin Sinsuat, the unopposed bets for councilor are Sophia Maliga Abas, Umbra Mama Ambolodto, Zhenet Sinsuat Ante, Suharto Sinsuat Mama, Akmad Salazar Nur, Jr., Medzecail Mamacol Pinguiaman, Dexter Datumanong Sinsuat and Osmena Lucas Sinsuat III. All are running as Independents.

In Guindulungan, Bobby Midtimbang Bondula, Midpantao Musa Midtimbang, Jr., Ngulin Kasim Midtimbang, Abdulhaqe M. Midtimbang Mustapha, Datunoey Midtimbang Pandita, H. Rasul Maulana Salvo,Singtaon Amolan Sangowan an Percival Akmad Watamama are running for councilor, unopposed. All are running as Independents.

In Mangudadatu town, the council bets running unopposed are Fort Mangudadatu Daniel, Guiapal Nanagga Galuken, and Linda Edza gandalibo, Datucon Alfonso Laguiaomal, Kasan Alamada Mamasalanang, Jackson Kanda Mangudadatu, Esmael Ago Usop and Suabi Tawalang Utto. All of them are running under Lakas-Kampi. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)