Tawi-Tawi town mayor defers reelection bid to campaign for Roxas, Hataman

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The mayor of Tawi-Tawi’s capital town Bongao is not seeking reelection so he can campaign for the candidates of the Liberal Party (LP) for president and governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Mayor Jasper Que, who is qualified to seek reelection for a third term, said he decided not to file a certificate of candidacy (COC) so he can campaign well for LP’s presidential bet, Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, and for ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who is aspiring for a second term.

The municipality of Bongao has more than 40,000 registered voters, according to Que.

“I’m not seeking reelection so I can campaign for Roxas and Hataman, who are both my companions in the Liberal Party. I believe in their leadership and so I will campaign for both of them,” Que on Saturday said.

Que is related by blood to LP member Sulu Vice Gov. Sakur Tan, who has filed his COC for ARMM governor without permission from the party.

Hataman, Que and Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu met in Davao City last Thursday and discussed political issues besetting the autonomous region and on how they can cooperate in helping ensure peaceful and orderly elections in May next year.

Also present in the meeting were Maguindanao Vice Gov. Lester Sinsuat and the mayor of Maguindanao’s vote-rich seaside Parang town.

Sinsuat is presiding chair of the Association of Lumad, Iranun and Maguindanao (ALIM) leaders, a bloc wielding influence over some 200,000 voters scattered in the first and second districts of Maguindanao.

The politically-monolithic ALIM group had a good show of how organized its political machinery is when members helped Mangudadatu defeat his rival, Tucao Mastura, with an overwhelming vote lead during the May 13, 2013 elections.

Mangudadatu and Sinsuat, both LP members, are seeking reelection as running mates with the support of ALIM.

Mangudadatu said ALIM members will support LP’s official candidates for national positions and for governor of ARMM.

During their meeting Thursday in Davao City, Que, Ibay and Mangudadatu agreed to help each other push Hataman’s bid for a second term forward.

The three of them also reaffirmed to each other their commitment to campaign extensively for their party’s presidential standard bearer, Roxas, for vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo and the LP’s senatorial slate.

The three officials, Que, Ibay and Mangudadatu, are avowed brothers in the Free and Accepted Masons fraternity.