BULUAN, Maguindanao (MindaNews / 21 February) – It’s ISSA or Isko-Sara for the clan of 2nd district Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu who is running for Governor, a post he had held from 2010 to 2019.
Manila Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso greets the crowd during a motorcade in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat on Sunday (20 February 2022). MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH CABRERA
Isko refers to Manila mayor Presidential candidate Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso of Aksyon Demokratiko while Sara refers to Vice Presidential aspirant Sara Duterte of Lakas-CMD, the running mate of Presidential candidate Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos.
Domagoso’s running mate is Dr. Willie Ong.
Duterte is running under the banner of Lakas-CMD. Her local party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, has allied with Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
“ISSA is a good tandem,” said Rep. Mangudadatu. “You can just imagine the combination of quick action and brilliant young mayors’ team up,” he said.
Mangudadatu’s rival for governor, his cousin and reelectionist Governor Bai Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu, and Bai Mariam’s husband, Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, outgoing Governor of Sultan Kudarat province, are supporting Marcos-Duterte.
Mangudadatu’s brother Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, a three-term congressman who ran but lost in the Senate race in 2019 and is now running again for the 2nd district congressional seat his brother is vacating, is the Mindanao campaign manager for ISSA.
“We launched this ISSA last December in Manila for the entire country, we are working with UBJP here in Bangsamoro region,” he said.
UBJP is the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is transforming from a revolutionary group to a political party following the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 27, 2014, the peace agreement forged by government and the MILF after 17 years of peace negotiations. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera / MindaNews)
