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COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), delivered a sweeping victory in the two Maguindanao provinces, Tawi-Tawi, and Cotabato City, but also lost in other top races elsewhere during the just-held May 12 elections.
UBJP-backed candidates defeated well-entrenched political families, including the Mangudadatus and their allies in the Maguindanao provinces.
In Maguindanao del Sur, former Talayan mayor Ali Midtimbang, the UBJP’s bet, beat Governor Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, garnering 157,177 votes against her 149,518.
Midtimbang’s running mate, Ustadz Hisham Nando – son of a late MILF leader and the Bangsamoro wali – secured the vice gubernatorial post with 163,176 votes, defeating former Mamasapano mayor Benzar Ampatuan, who received 133,415.
Former Maguindanao governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, also fielded by the UBJP, narrowly won the congressional race against reelectionist Representative Mohammad “Tong” Paglas.
In neighboring Maguindanao del Norte, UBJP candidates dominated the May 12 elections.
COURTESY CALL. Several winners in the local elections in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte meet with MILF Chairman and former BARMM interim governor Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ Ebrahim on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.Former Sultan Kudarat mayor Tucao Mastura and former Datu Blah Sinsuat mayor Marshall Sinsuat both won by landslides, securing over 100,000 votes each. Both were MILF-backed candidates.
Mastura and Sinsuat won the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial races.
Representative Dimple Ebrahim-Mastura of the Lakas-CMD party won the congressional seat for Maguindanao del Norte with Cotabato City, defeating former congresswoman Sandra Sema of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. Both were associated with the UBJP, rendering their race a “free zone.”
A dynasty hurt
The loss was a blow to the political dynasty of Mariam and Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, which had dominated local politics in the now-defunct Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Teng, a former director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), once served as Sultan Kudarat’s governor and was succeeded by his son, Pax Ali.
His wife, Mariam, had previously served as governor of the undivided Maguindanao before it was split into two provinces in 2022, and was subsequently appointed officer-in-charge slash governor of Maguindanao del Sur.
Their ally, Ainee Sinsuat, former vice governor of the defunct Maguindanao province, was Teng’s running mate in Maguindanao del Norte and lost the gubernatorial race,
The Mangudadatus, Sinsuats, Midtimbangs, and Masturas had previously formed the Family Alliance, a bloc that opposed UBJP candidates. However, the alliance fractured ahead of the 2025 midterm elections when Mastura and Midtimbang aligned with the MILF-backed party.
Victory in Cotabato
Cotabato City, the regional center of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was swept by UBJP candidates.
Reelectionist Cotabato Mayor Mohammad Bruce Matabalao won against his former ally, Vice Mayor Butch Abu, who had switched to the Lakas-SIAP party to challenge his second term. Abu is the son of the late Ghadzali Jaafar, former MILF vice chair for political affairs.
Vice mayoral candidate Johair Madag and the UBJP’s full city council slate also emerged victorious.
In Tawi-Tawi, the UBJP retained its stronghold. Governor Yshmael Sali and his son, Vice Governor Al-Syed Sali, both secured reelection by landslide margins against former congresswoman Ruby Sahali and her running mate, Algarad Lipae.
Another MILF-backed candidate, Tawi-Tawi Representative Dimszar Sali, also won reelection in the province’s lone congressional district.
Call for collaboration
Following the electoral victories, BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, UBJP secretary-general, called for humility and compassion among MILF and UBJP members.
Macacua said, “Some are happy and some are sad, but as good Muslims in any competition, we have to show our sympathy to the losing party.”
MILF chairman and former BARMM chief minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim added, “I also offer my hand in partnership with our rival political parties in the hope that we can collaborate together for a better Bangsamoro. Let us work hand in hand to realize the dreams of our people, to protect the gains of the peace process, and to ensure that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region remains a model of inclusive growth and sustainable development.”
Losses in Basilan, Lanao
But there were also provinces where the MILF and its party lost, like Basilan, where the gubernatorial race saw UBJP-backed candidate Jay Hataman Salliman lose to his uncle, Representative Mujiv Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Jay is the son of Governor Jim Hataman Salliman, Mujiv’s brother, who won the vice gubernatorial race in Basilan. He defeated Mujiv’s ally, Alzad Sattar.
UBJP-backed Yusop Alano, however, won the congressional seat of Basilan, and will succeed Mujiv.
In Lanao del Sur, the UBJP suffered a major setback as Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. of the Lakas party beat his UBJP-backed challenger, Fiat Macarambon.
Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong, a former member of the Bangsamoro Parliament and the UBJP’s candidate for vice governor, also lost.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto-Adiong, the governor’s brother, also defeated Abofarhan Hadjiomar.
In Lanao del Sur’s 2nd District, Representative Yasser Balindong won against UBJP’s Rehan Lao.
Meanwhile, Lakas-CMD candidate Shariff Zain Gandamra won the mayoral race against former mayor Pre Salic of the UBJP in Marawi.
Shariff is the son of current Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra, who secured the city’s vice mayoral post, defeating UBJP’s Anuar Marabur. – Rappler.com
