Maguindanao town councilor who aspired for vice mayoral seat dies before filing COC

COTABATO CITY—A municipal councilor of Datu Piang town, Maguindanao died on Thursday (Oct. 7) just before filing a certificate of candidacy (COC).

Together with hundreds of her supporters shouting, ‘Tita!’, ‘Tita!’, Sanggunian Bayan member Bai Diana Mantawil Mokalid paraded around Datu Piang town early morning of Thursday.

They then proceeded to the house of Mayor Victor Samama where their group was supposed to assemble before going to the municipal election office to file their respective COCs.

Mokalid, popularly known as ‘Tita ng Bayan,’ was set to file her candidacy for vice mayor while Samama would seek reelection.

While the group was approaching the gate of Samama’s house, Mokalid lost consciousness and collapsed.  She died while being transported to a hospital in nearby Midsayap town, Cotabato.

A supporter of Mokalid said the councilor may have suffered intense physical fatigue.