MILF candidate to seek SC relief after Comelec cancels candidacy

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The camp of Anwar Alamada, a candidate for district representative of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao del Sur’s fifth parliamentary district, disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), is bringing his case to the Supreme Court.

Lawyer Badrodin Mangindra, Alamada’s lawyer, said they followed the process, filing an appeal before the Comelec en banc after its Second Division cancelled his candidacy in the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

But the Comelec en banc affirmed the second division’s cancellation.

Article continues after this advertisement

Alamada is an official candidate of the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) and served in the erstwhile rebel group’s ceasefire panel mediating warring families and field commanders.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

READ: Comelec all set for BARMM polls

In a resolution promulgated on Thursday, Aug. 27, the Comelec en banc said Alamada failed to prove that he is a resident of Barangay Kudal, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Rafsanjani Ali, a candidate for the same seat under the rival Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), challenged Alamada’s candidacy, claiming he misrepresented his residency.

Ali said in his complaint that Alamada falsely declared that he is a resident of Barangay Kudal for the past 49 years.

Article continues after this advertisement

On July 7, Alamada filed a motion to overturn the ruling, but the division denied Alamada’s attempt to introduce new evidence in his motion.

Despite the ruling disqualifying him in next month’s balloting, Alamada continued his campaign sortie along with the UBJP candidates in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday, Aug. 28.

Article continues after this advertisement

With Alamada’s candidacy cancelled, the lone seat in Maguindanao Sur’s 5th parliamentary district will be contested by Ali and Nasser Guialal Dalgan of Bangsamoro Party (BAPA).

Maguindanao del Sur 5th parliamentary district is composed of the towns of Datu Montawal, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Pagalungan, Rajah Buayan, Sultan sa Barongis and Paglat, with 114,737 registered voters.

The poll body also cancelled the registration and accreditation of Moro Ako Party as a Regional Parliamentary Political Party (RPPP) after finding out it made untruthful representations about having established chapters throughout the region, which were required for accreditation.

A certain Aladin Abdul filed the petition to cancel Moro Ako Party’s registration with the poll body.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

In a statement, a member of Moro Ako Party shared with local media that it would bring the matter to the Supreme Court and that it continues its campaign activities. /cb