COTABATO CITY, Philippines—If what the politicians say is true, the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will show that people in the region are still divided along ethnic lines or geography.
On Thursday, influential Sulu political leaders declared their unconditional support for Anak Mindanao Representative Mujiv Hataman, an ethnik Yakan and native of Basilan, as ARMM governor.
Basilan and Sulu are geographically closer to each other than any other ARMM province.
Among those who openly declared support for Hataman were Representative Nur Ana Sahidulla, Vice Governor Benjamin Loong, former Representative Yusop Jikiri and Representative Munir Arbison.
But Arbison said Basilan and Sulu’s being geographically close might be incidental.
“We believe in the capability of former Congressman Hataman to lead and institute the much-needed reforms in the ARMM, that is why we are totally rallying behind his candidacy,” he said by phone.
At least 11 politicians said they have pinned their hopes on Hataman because he is a qualified native leader from neighboring Basilan province.
Basilan and Sulu have a combined voting population of 461,702, according to the National Movement for Free Elections.
Another province geographically close to Sulu and Basilan is Tawi-Tawi, which has 140,232 voters. But Tawi-Tawi politicians are still silent as to which candidate for ARMM governor they will back.
Hataman, who is still without an official party, joined the ARMM gubernatorial race with acting governor Ansaruddin Adiong, a native of Lanao del Sur, as his running mate.
But that might not help him get much from Maranaw voters, who numbered 459,012 based on statements from politicians of the province.
Maranaw politicians had already declared support for a fellow Maranaw in the person of Mamintal Adiong, who is currently the Lanao del Sur governor.
Lanao del Sur Representative Pangalian Balindong withdrew from the race to give way to his province-mate.
Lawyer Lomala Balindong, currently ARMM agriculture and food secretary, said they might even support acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong’s bid for the vice gubernatorial seat.
Maguindanao, which has traditionally voted for Maguindanaon candidates in past ARMM gubernatorial races, was expected to go for former Sultan Kudarat Governor Pakung Magudadatu, who is running with Aquino’s aunt Margarita Cojuangco as his vice gubernatorial running mate under PDP-Laban.
Mangudadatu has long relocated to Maguindanao, which has around 600,000 voters per Namfrel records.