Maguindanao: Last day of campaign

Angela Casauay

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In their home turfs, allies turned bitter rivals Maguindanao Gov Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu and Sultan Kudarat mayor Tucao Mastura held simultaneous miting de avances on Saturday, May 11

LAST HURRAH. Liberal Party leaders in Maguindanao hold their miting de avance. Photo by Manman Dejeto

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — In their home turfs, allies turned bitter rivals Maguindanao Gov Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and Sultan Kudarat mayor Tucao Mastura held simultaneous miting de avance on Saturday, May 11.

It was the last day of campaign before the May 13 elections, where voters will decide on who should win the one-on-one gubernatorial race.

In a miting de avance that started at 12nn and ended at about 7pm, all the mayoral, vice mayoral and congressional bets of the Liberal Party, led by Mangudadatu, in the province were given the chance to address the crowd at the Buluan gymnasium.    

Meanwhile, UNA side, led by Mastura, kept it simple. 

On the last day of the campaign, Mastura, held a “peace rally” in his bailwick Shariff Kabunsuan, Sultan Kudarat. 

Along with his fellow UNA candidates, he released doves to symbolize their promise to clamp down on violence in Maguindanao.

PEACE AGENDA. UNA leaders release doves to symbolize peace. Photo by Pat S. Roque.

Mastura, brother of senior Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panel member Michael Mastura, has capitalized on a campaign anchored on the peace process and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro. 

However, it did not prevent him from engaging in mudslinging and criticizing his nephew and rival, Mangudadatu, during his miting de avance. 

Mastura challenged the government to investigate the wealth of Mangudadatu, who declared about P390.6-M in his 2011 Statement of Assets, Liablities and Net Worth (SALN).  

He told reporters: “I’m just wondering. When government officials investigated the wealth of former Supreme Court Justice Chief Renato Corona, in less than two months, a decision came out.  He was removed from his post. Let’s have transparent governance.” 

In a press conference on the sidelines of the Maguindanao chapter of the Liberal Party at a gymnasium in Buluan, Mangudadatu brushed off Mastura’s accusation as an “old issue.”

INCUMBENT. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu os seeking a second term. Photo by Manman Dejeto

He said his wealth increased because he decided to include his father’s plantation in his SALN. 

Isinali ko dun sa SALN para makabayan ng taxes para makatulong naman tayo sa gobyerno,” he said. (I included it in my SALN so I can pay for taxes and help the government.)

But Mastura also chided Mangudadatu for suppossedly not paying the right kind of taxes. 

He said: “I’m a certified public accountant. If he acquired such assets from his parents, he should have paid inheritance tax,” Mastura said. 

While the LP event was a festive affair, the program took a somber turn when Mangudadatu’s daughter teared up as she called on her grandfather, Mastura, to stop dragging her mother’s name into his rivalry with Mangudadatu. 

Mangudadatu said Mastura has been criticizing him for allowing his wife to file his certificate of candidacy for him in 2009, when the Maguindanao massacre that killed 58 people happened.

“Marami nang beses kong sinabing wag nang gamitin yun at kahit kailan hindi ko gagawing isubo ang buhay ng aking asawa,” he said. (I have long told them not to use that anymore because I will never throw my wife into danger.)

Despite the ongoing rivalry, Mangudadatu said he is open for a reconciliation with his uncle after the elections. 

He said: “Maging ang kalaban sa kabilang partido ay nang-aatake, ako naman ay reconciliation lagi. Partido lang ‘to e. Ako, partido lang ‘to. Uncle ko siya at ako pamangkin niya ako. Ako malinaw naman na ako nasa kabila,” (Even if our opponent from the rival party is attacking me, I’m open for a reconciliation. This is all about the party. For me, it’s just our parties. He’s my uncle and I’m his nephew. It’s clear that I belong to the other side.)

UNA. Supporters of UNA gubernatorial bet Tucao Mastura. Photo by Pat S. Roque

When asked if he would make the same commitment as Mastura to step down from power should he be elected once the transition toward the Bangsamoro starts taking place, Mangudadatu did not give a direct response. He instead called Mastura a “liar.”

Mangudadatu said Mastura’s claim to vacate his position is misplaced. He claimed it is “clear” that only regional positions will be changed, and not provincial positions. The comprehensive peace agreement has yet to be signed. 

Maguindanao has been identified as a poll hot spot for 3 elections in a row. – Rappler.com 

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