Ex-Languyan vice mayor leads race for Tawi-Tawi 2nd District rep in BARMM Parliament

ELECTED. Former Languyan vice mayor Hadjimar 'Chong' Matba.

Matba's Facebook page

Hadjimar Matba also previously served as Tawi-Tawi’s provincial administrator and provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer

MANILA, Philippines – Hadjimar “Chong” Matba, a former vice mayor of Tawi-Tawi’s Languyan town, currently leads the vote for the province’s 2nd District seat in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

Matba will join his relative, South Ubian Mayor Hadzri Matba, in government service. The newly elected official had previously served as Tawi-Tawi’s provincial administrator in 2019 and provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer from 2019 to 2024.

This comes after the conclusion of the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections on Monday, September 14.

Matba has obtained 37,727 votes, securing one seat for his political party, the Progresibong Bangsamoro Party, according to 84.09% of total election returns as of Monday, 8:44 pm.

He is currently topping the race with a wide margin over two other candidates in Tawi-Tawi’s 2nd District.

Former South Ubian vice mayor Abdelaziz Halun is currently ranking second with 12,808 votes, which means he can no longer catch up to Matba’s lead. He is the bet of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party. 

Placing third so far is Gamal Hayudini, a retired Philippine Air Force colonel and head of the civil society organization Ako Sama. As the candidate of the BARMM Grand Coalition, he has obtained at least 2,610 votes.

Like other newly elected parliament members, Matba will serve a special five-year transition term from October 30, 2026, to June 30, 2031. He will be one of the 32 district representatives making up 40% of the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament. – Rappler.com