Can Maguindanao see most peaceful polls yet?

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Will the current peace process translate to less election-related violence in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday, May 13?

On the eve of the polls, a school supervisor was shot dead in a likely election-related incident in Maguindanao. In other areas in Mindanao, reports of poll-related violence have also been recorded. 

But police said such incidents are nothing out of the extraordinary. After all, 3 areas under ARMM have been tagged as hot spots: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan.

As mandated, checkpoints in high-risk areas, manned by police and army officers armed with guns, continue to abound.

Despite the reports of violence, Parang police chief Henry Gubat on Sunday said there have been fewer incidents of poll-related violence this year compared to previous elections.  

In a region dominated by clan politics, no major clashes have been reported between rival clans as of Sunday. 

This is a far cry from the period before the 2010 official campaign period, when the bloodiest poll-related incident in history — the Maguindanao Massacre that killed 58 people — happened after incumbent Gov Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu dared to run against Andal Ampatuan Jr, a member of the then ruling clan in Maguindanao. 

According to election watchdogs, the massacre awakened citizen groups to be more vigilant in implementing electoral reforms. 

Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms (C-Care) chairperson Salic Ibrahim said that as volunteers monitor irregular activities, such as PCOS delivery delays, PCOS glitches, pre-shaded ballots, vote buying and intimidation, poll operators are now thinking twice before conducting any illegal activities due to improvements in technology. 

“It’s so easy to take pictures nowadays. With more people having access to cellphones with cameras and the Internet, operators are now more careful,” he said. 

In 2007, Maguindanao was the site of election-rigging operations that led to an election protest against Miguel Zubiri, who eventually resigned as senator. He is running for senator again.

Peace and polls

This year marks the first time that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will hold their elections at the same time as the rest of the country. 

In Maguindanao, voters are excited. Locals say they are eager to cast their votes in person. It’s a story that residents love to tell — how in the past nobody went to polling precincts to cast their votes during the reign of the Ampatuans in the province because voting was already done before the actual polls opened. There is no need to vote anymore because pre-filled ballots were delivered to canvassing centers. 

It should be noted though that the Ampatuan clan remains visible in the Maguindanao landscape. At least 70 members of the Ampatuan clan are running this election. 

Still, the improvement in the peace situation is a good sign for ARMM as it prepares for a transition towards the new Bangsamoro political entity born out of the peace negotiations between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government. 

But will the generally peaceful atmosphere in Maguindanao hold until the winning candidates are pronounced?  

Liberal Party bet and incumbent governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu has said he wants to continue the fight for justice for the Maguindanao Massacre that claimed the life of his wife and two sisters. 

Mangudadatu claimed that since he took over, men no longer brandish their guns on the streets. Collecting loose firearms are, of course, another story. 

His challenger, Sultan Kudarat mayor Tucao Mastura, has also made peace as his own agenda. A brother of senior MILF peace panel member Michael Mastura, he has been promoting the Framework Agreement side by side his candidacy. 

The MILF has repeatedly reiterated its “hands off” policy on the elections and stressed that they will not endorse any candidates. 

But leaders say their members are free to vote, especially for candidates who are “not hostile” to the Framework Agreement. 

Mangudadatu, for his part, has also said that he is in favor of the Framework Agreement. 

Although taking different tacks, both Mastura and Mangudadatu are capitalizing on the theme of improving the security situation in Maguindanao. 

But the situation between both camps themselves has been described as “volatile” as both gubernatorial bets have been involved in bitter campaigns.

Both candidates used to be members of the Liberal Party. 

They joined forces in 2010 to topple the ruling Ampatuan clan with Mastura serving as Mangudadatu’s campaign officer. After a falling out due to personal and political conflict, the former allies have now become bitter rivals. Mastura was forced to join the United Nationalist Alliance after his former party chose Mangudadatu over him. 

There is also a curious situation as to who they are supporting for ARMM governor. 

Mastura has thrown his support behind ARMM Officer-in-charge Gov Mujiv Hataman of the Liberal Party. Mastura said it is due to Hataman’s support for the Framework Agreement. 

Appointed as OIC governor of the region in 2011, Hataman is seeking to be elected as governor this time around. Although he is the partymate of Toto Mangudadatu, he is running against Toto’s uncle, former Maguindanao Gov Pax Mangudadatu, aside from 5 other candidates, including former Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari. 

The two LP candidates are running against UNA-allied bets. The LP bets’ performance in these polls would show the extent of Aquino’s political influence here, especially after holding the distinction of being the first president to visit certain areas in the province for the first time — the MILF stronghold in Camp Darapanan, and Buluan, known bailwick of Toto Mangudadatu. – Rappler.com

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