COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Only eight of the 40 mayoral candidates fielded by Serbisyong Inklusibo, Alyansang Progresibo, or SIAP, the pioneer regional political party in the Bangsamoro region, were defeated in the May 12 elections in Lanao del Sur.
Established in 1954, Lanao del Sur — which has 39 towns and whose capital is Marawi — is the oldest and largest of the five provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The region also includes three cities: Lamitan, Marawi and Cotabato, where the BARMM regional capitol is located.
Regional officials of the Commission on Elections in BARMM and senior SIAP leaders, quoted in radio reports aired Sunday in Cotabato City, said 31 of the party’s mayoral candidates in Lanao del Sur and Marawi were elected during the May 12 polls.
SIAP Platform
SIAP, regarded as the region’s first registered political party, promotes trade and commerce in agricultural areas of Lanao del Sur and beyond. Its platform aims to generate rural employment and support small, micro and medium enterprises in remote communities covered by the government’s peace agreements with the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Four other regional political parties have since emerged in BARMM, including the MNLF’s Bangsamoro Party and the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party, all formed about three years after SIAP’s registration with the Commission on Elections.
Adiong: Gratitude
Reelected Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., a senior SIAP official, expressed gratitude to Maranao community leaders, including merchants and barangay officials, who campaigned for the party’s 40 mayoral candidates in Marawi and across the province.
“Only a few didn’t make it — eight of them were defeated by rivals. We’re not worried about that. We will initiate measures to mend and eventually resolve their differences with the winning candidates,” Adiong said.
In addition to Adiong, three other top SIAP officials also won reelection: party president and Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mohammad Rakiin Adiong, and congressional representatives Zia Alonto Adiong and Yasser Alonto Balindong.
SIAP’s candidate for Marawi mayor, political newcomer Zain Lanto Gandamra, was also proclaimed the winner of the city’s mayoral race, according to Comelec officials in BARMM.
(Contributed report)
About The Author
