Mangudadatu predicts Mar-Leni victory in Maguindanao
COTABATO CITY — Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu is optimistic of a Mar Roxas-Leni Robredo victory in his province, citing the magnitude of development projects poured into Muslim communities under the Aquino administration.
“It’s a foregone conclusion,” Mangudadatu told newsmen about the projected victory of administration bets in the province.
Maguindanao has 36 towns and 506 barangays, with an estimated population of 1.1 million this year. It has close to 700,000 registered voters, the largest in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Gov. Mangudadatu, Vice Governor Lester Sinsuat, Representatives Sandra Sema and Zajid Mangudadatu, eight of 10 provincial board members, mayors and vice mayors in 31 of 36 the towns belong to the ruling Liberal Party (LP).
Last month, the federation of 509 elected barangay chairpersons in Maguindanao through its president Adnan Biruar issued a manifesto cit- ing the present administration’s record initiatives in the province, and assuring full support for the candidacies of Roxas and Robredo.
Citing their latest meetings in Maguindanao and elsewhere, Gov. Mangudadatu said all provincial and municipal LP members in his turf remain solid in their support of the Mar-Leni tandem.
When asked to translate his prediction into figures, the governor said, “the conservative votes forecast (for Roxas and Robredo) is between 350,000 and 400,000.”
He hinted that the rest of the province’s electorate may opt for other candidates due to fraternity or loyalty, referring to Vice President and UNA standard bearer Jejomar Binay, who belongs to the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is Mindanao’s first presidential contender.
Meanwhile, Gov. Mangudadatu commended all guests and hosts in the recent 5th Sagayan Festival in Buluan town for not issuing political statements in deference to the organizers’ apolitical theme for the occasion.