SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao (MindaNews/11 May) – The national count in the Commission on Elections has higher figures and results may have changed, but out here in the provincial capitol, where provincial canvassing is being held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s session hall, Datu Ombra Sinsuat and running mate Andal Ampatuan, Sr., are leading the gubernatorial race, followed by Lakas-Kampi’s Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and Ismael “Dustin” Mastura in 12 of 36 Maguindanao towns.
Only 12 of the 36 towns in Maguindanao have transmitted their results as of 9:30 a.m. – 11 of them in the second district and only one – Kabuntalan – in the first district.
In the 12 towns, Sinsuat got at total of 40,606 votes against Mangudadatu’s 29,930 while Ampatuan Sr., got a total of 49,551 votes in the towns of Talitay, Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Sultan Sa Barongis, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Piang, Guindulungna, Mamasapano, Pagagawan and Pandag in the second district and Kabuntalan in the first district.
In the same towns, the two other gubernatorial bets — Mangudadatu and Midpantao Midtimbang, got 29,930 votes and 24,627 votes, respectively while vice gubernatorial bets Mastura got 32,993 votes; Marouph Candao got 4,410 votes and Shaydee Ampatuan-Abutazil, Ampatuan’s daughter, got 1,309 votes.
In Ampatuan town where at least 58 persons were massacred, 32 of them from the media, on November 23, 2009 by armed men believed led by then Datu Unsay mayor Andal AMpatuan, Jr., Mangudadatu won 9,029 votes against Sinsuat’s 1,366 and Midpantao Midtimbang’s 843 votes.
Mangudadatu and Sinsuat topped the race in five towns each while Midtimbang topped in his hometown in Guindulungan (6,465 votes against Mangudadatu’s 85 and Sinsuat’s 25), and in Datu Abdullah Sangki (1,567 against Mangudadatu’s 1,51 and Sinsuat’s 139).
Mangudadatu won in Ampatuan, Sultan Sa Barongis (3,614 votes), Kabuntalan (3,726 votes), Pagagawan (3,159 votes) and Pandag (6,081 votes).
Sinsuat won in Talitay (1,025 votes), Shariff Aguak (7,156 votes), Datu Hofer Ampatuan (11,424 votes), Datu Piang (10,517 votes) and Mamasapano (4,977 votes).
Mastura won in eight of the 12 towns – Talitay (608 votes), Ampatuan (9,408 votes), Datu Abdullah Sangki (1,541 votes), Sultan Sa Barongis (3,095 votes), Kabuntalan (4,582 votes), Guindulungan (2,736 votes), Pagagawan (2,929 votes) and Pandag (6,007 votes).
Ampatuan Sr., won in only four but vote-rich and previously Ampatuan-controlled towns of Shariff Aguak (9,269 votes), Datu Hofer Ampatuan (12,049 votes), Datu Piang (14,034 votes) and Mamasapano (6,052 votes).
As of 9:30 a.m., the Provincial Board of Canvassers at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall at the Provincial Capitol here was still awaiting transmission from 24 other towns of Maguindanao.
The 11 towns in the first district include vote-rich towns that are known bailiwicks of the Masturas. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)