Tawi-Tawi governor’s sister-in-law tops 3rd District race for BARMM Parliament

VICTORY. Former Sapa-Sapa municipal administrator Rhosatina 'Tina' Matolo-De Asis.

Matolo-De Asis' Facebook page

The Bangsamoro Federalist Party’s Tina Matolo-De Asis is the sister of Sapa-Sapa Mayor Rhodesia Matolo-Sali, who is married to Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali

MANILA, Philippines – Rhosatina “Tina” Matolo-De Asis is currently in the lead for Tawi-Tawi’s 3rd District seat in the Bangsamoro Parliament, as results continue to be transmitted for the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections on Monday, September 14.

She is the sister of Sapa-Sapa Mayor Rhodesia Matolo-Sali, who is married to Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali. She is also the daughter of former Sapa-Sapa mayor Putli Aisa Sulayman Matolo.

De Asis herself is former municipal administrator of Sapa-Sapa, as well as a pharmacist. She ran under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party.

De Asis is poised to defeat three other candidates to secure her spot in the BARMM Parliament, with 28,713 votes so far, according to 84.09% of total election returns as of Monday, 8:44 pm.

Mali Albrinji, the bet of the BARMM Grand Coalition, is currently in second with 8,336 of the votes. He used to be deputy regional manager of the Bangsamoro Ports Management Authority and regional director of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s Maritime Industry Authority.

In third, as of writing, is former Tandubas municipal councilor Alnahada Dalagan, the candidate of the Bangsamoro Party and daughter of the late Roxas Salih, the first chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front’s Tawi-Tawi State Revolutionary Committee. She currently has 2,349 votes.

Dayang Rajsidana Kimble Amilbangsa, a nurse and member of the Amilbangsa clan, ran under the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party. She is now in fourth with 1,743 votes.

De Asis will serve a special five-year transition term from October 30, 2026, to June 30, 2031. She will be one of the 32 district representatives making up 40% of the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament. – Rappler.com