COTABATO CITY — In case something goes wrong with the much-publicized plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law in January next year, at least one candidate will be running for governor in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in next year’s midterm elections.
Datu Ibrahim “Jong” Mangudadatu, older brother of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu, has replaced the candidacy of Datu Bagua Mangudadatu, who withdrew his certificate of candidacy (CoC) filed last month as the lone candidate for governor in the ARMM.
Jong Mangudadatu, who would be running for ARMM governor under the Lakas-CMD ticket, said he decided to run because of the possibility that the Supreme Court would issue a temporary restraining order on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which would prevent the holding of a plebiscite in January.
Former Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan had earlier questioned the legality of the BOL before the Supreme Court. The BOL is an enabling law for the expansion of the ARMM, anchored on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Jong said he was not against the proposed BARMM to replace the current ARMM. “(But) what if a TRO is handed down?” he asked, “I will be an unopposed ARMM aspirant for governor,” he said.
Agriculture Undersecretary Bai Ranibai Dilangalen has also resigned recently to file her substitute COC for a seat in Congress in next year’s balloting, representing Maguindanao’s first district which includes Cotabato City.
She replaced the COC of her aunt, Bai Rebecca Dilangalen Alamada Buan. The former DA Usec is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the forerunner of Mayor Duterte National Executive Coordinating Council.
The poll body set Nov. 29 as the last day for substitution of candidates for next year’s polls.