Mangudadatu banking on Mindanao voters’ support

Maguindanao Rep. Zajib “Dong” Mangudadatu speaks at a rally in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, a lesser-known senatorial candidate under the slate of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), is banking on the support of Mindanao voters.

“I’m very confident,” Mangudadatu said when asked before the start of the PDP-Laban’ mitín de avance on Saturday how confident he was of getting a Senate seat.

“I believe that those from Mindanao and most of our colleagues in the 16th and 17th Congress are helping out,” he added, speaking in Filipino.

Mangudadatu is the only candidate from the PDP-Laban slate who is not included in the winning circle in the latest Pulse Asia Survey.

He ranked 18th to 19th place with 15.5% voter preference.

The other candidates in his slate made it to the so-called Magic 12.

READ: Villar tops Pulse Asia’s latest senatorial poll

On May 13, around 60 million Filipinos are expected to cast their votes in more than 380,000 precincts nationwide for candidates running for senatorial, congressional, and local seats.

Listen to the President

Less than two days before the May 13 elections, Mangudadatu urged voters to elect candidates endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte himself as well as those backed by the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the regional party formed by the presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“Prioritize those endorsed by our beloved President Duterte and Mayor Sara Duterte. If we choose them, they will be the ones who will give real service to the country and help our government… And our people will not regret supporting them,” he said.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)