Pikit, Cotabato — A doctor known for bringing free medical missions to some of the poorest communities in the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area is emerging as a major political force, with local officials and community leaders publicly throwing their support behind his bid for a seat in the BARMM parliament.
Mayor Ismael “Boy Hashim” Mama of Ligawasan, Vice Mayor Bai Jenaida Abas, municipal councilor Max Tingle and numerous barangay officials have separately expressed support for physician-ophthalmologist Kadil Sinolinding Jr., better known to residents as “Doc Jojo.”
Sinolinding is seeking the parliament seat representing the 2nd district of the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area, which covers the municipalities of Ligawasan, Old Kaabacan, Kapalawan and Malidegao. The four municipalities are part of the Bangsamoro regional government but are geographically located within Cotabato province in Region 12.
Sinolinding is currently an appointed member of the 80-seat Bangsamoro parliament and concurrently serves as minister of the Ministry of Health-BARMM.
But in the communities he hopes to represent, his political campaign is closely tied to a more personal reputation: that of a doctor who travels to remote barangays to treat people who struggle to afford medical care.
Since 2022, Sinolinding and his partners have conducted a series of humanitarian medical missions reportedly serving more than 6,000 residents across the district.
His public-service teams have included volunteers, nurses and doctors, along with personnel from his parliament office and the BARMM Ministry of Health. Local government health workers and officials, as well as the office of Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño, have also been involved in various activities.
Among those treated were children, pregnant women and elderly residents suffering from various illnesses.
Sinolinding, who specialized in ophthalmology in India, also personally performed eye operations for senior citizens suffering from cataracts and pterygium.
That record of medical outreach is now becoming a central part of the argument from his supporters: that a parliament seat would give him a bigger platform to extend the same services to more residents.
Local radio reports and regional newspapers on Saturday reported that a growing number of municipal and barangay officials in the four municipalities had publicly backed his candidacy.
Influential BARMM parliament member Jack Abas, who also resides in the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area, was likewise reported to be among those supporting Sinolinding.
The backing has also extended beyond elected officials.
Media reports said several traditional Moro and non-Moro Indigenous community leaders, as well as members and commanders associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) living in the district, have expressed support for his candidacy.
MNLF leaders in the four municipalities were also reported to have voiced confidence that Sinolinding could help bring more government and medical services to poor communities if elected.
The MNLF is headed by Muslimin Sema, who also serves as the Bangsamoro government’s minister for labor and employment.
The MILF and MNLF have separate peace agreements with the Philippine government and have participated in peace and development initiatives in the Bangsamoro region.
For Sinolinding’s supporters, however, the election is about more than political alliances, pointing to the thousands of residents already reached by his medical missions as evidence of what they believe he could do with a formal electoral mandate.
And as the September 14 BARMM parliamentary elections approach, “Doc Jojo” is finding that his strongest political asset may be the people he has already treated.
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