Maguindanao bet assails bid to link him to MILF

COTABATO CITY—Maguindanao gubernatorial candidate Tucao Mastura of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Saturday slammed as another dirty political tactic reports that he is using his perceived ties with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to advance his political bid.

Mastura is a brother of former Maguindanao representative and MILF legal adviser Michael Mastura.

“It did not cross my mind, ever, to use the MILF,” said Mastura, who is pitted against the reelectionist administration candidate, Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu.

Reports about Mastura’s alleged use of the MILF came after the UNA grand rally in Datu Paglas town last week. The convoy of vehicles that accompanied Mastura from Sultan Kudarat to Datu Paglas sported green (the MILF’s official color) flaglets instead of orange, the official UNA color.

“It’s our supporters who chose, not me,” Mastura said.