NOROMBAI Utto, a scholar from Mamasapano town, files a certificate of candidacy on behalf of Mujiv Hataman, who is running for reelection as governor of the ARMM at the Comelec office in Cotabato City. PHOTO FROM ARMM INFORMATION BUREAU
A FAMILY that had been involved in one of the most bitter, and sometimes violent, political rivalry in Mindanao is carving a niche in the country’s newest province.
As the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) entered its fourth day yesterday, Claude Bautista, who is giving up his current post as governor of Davao del Sur province, filed his COC to become the first governor of Davao Occidental, a new province created by law.
An elder brother, incumbent Rep. Franklin Bautista, is running for vice governor.
As of yesterday, no rival is emerging against the Bautista brothers.
Claude has made a pitch for Arsenio Latasa, incumbent Davao del Sur vice governor, as his replacement in the governor’s seat.
“I am from there,” said Claude of Davao Occidental, which was carved out of the Davao del Sur towns of Santa Maria, Jose Abad Santos, Malita and Sarangani.
In 2013, Franklin sponsored the law that created the new province.
Rival
The Bautistas’ most bitter rival in Davao del Sur, ex-Gov. Douglas Cagas, sent his wife to file his COC on Wednesday for governor. Cagas is detained for the murder of journalist Nestor Bedolido.
Douglas’ wife, Mercedes, a member of the House representing Davao del Sur’s first district, filed Douglas’ COC accompanied by 20 supporters, relatives and Douglas’ candidate for vice governor, his nephew John Tracy Cagas.
The intense rivalry started between Bautista and Cagas in 2007 when they both ran for governor of the then undivided Davao del Sur.
Bautista was accused of killing Malita mayoral candidate Isidro Sarmiento and his son, board member candidate Danilo, who were allied with Cagas. Bautista denied the allegations and was eventually cleared.
Reports of harassment of supporters of both camps were rife, prompting police to declare Davao del Sur an area of concern.
ARMM still it
In Cotabato City, Gov. Mujiv Hataman, of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), filed his COC for reelection on Thursday.
Norombai Utto, 2015 valedictorian of the Hadji Salik National High School in Mamasapano town, filed the COC on behalf of Hataman.
Utto, now a student at the Mindanao State University in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, became known for crying during her valedictory address at a makeshift stage near an evacuation center for at least 120,000 residents who fled Mamasapano and nearby areas following the Jan. 25 clash that left 44 elite police commandos dead.
Rey Sumalipao, ARMM Commission on Elections director, personally received Hataman’s COC.
In North Cotabato, Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza filed a COC for her third term as governor at the provincial capitol in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City.
In Maguindanao, Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu filed his COC for reelection as a Liberal Party candidate.
No longer cheating capital
Mangudadatu said Maguindanao has shed its image of being the election cheating capital of the Philippines.
In 2007, Maguindanao politicians, led by the late Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., were accused of rigging the results of the senatorial elections in favor of candidates of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Mangudadatu said he hoped younger members of the Ampatuan clan “will not follow what their relatives did.” Allan Nawal, Eldie Aguirre, Williamor Magbanua and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao; with reports from Edwin Fernandez and Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao