COTABATO CITY – Outgoing Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, elected as a congressman for Maguindanao’s second district, has offered a “hand of peace” to all political families in the province after what he termed as divisive local elections.
Shortly after his proclamation on Thursday at Shariff Kabunsuan Complex here, Mangudadatu said he has no hurt feelings over all of his family’s political rivals, including cousins.
“I will push for reconciliation and healing of the Mangudadatus of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat,” he told reporters here shortly after his proclamation by the provincial election board of canvassers.
Congressman-elect Toto, his brothers Mayor Freddie, Rep. Zajid, Regional Assemblyman Khadafi and others are children of Datu Pua Mangudadatu, brother of Sultan Kudarat outgoing Gov. Pax Mangudadatu.
Pax’s son, Representative Suharto Mangudadatu, is the elected governor of Sultan Kudarat while his wife, Bai Mariam Sangki, mayor of Datu Abdullah Sangki has defeated Mayor Freddie in Maguindanao’s gubernatorial race.
Before this year’s election, Pua’s sons rule Maguindanao while Pax’s children and grandchildren dominated Sultan Kudarat.
“Politics should not destroy families, there should be no hatred, there should be no division,” Mangudadatu said.
“The speeches and issues raised during the campaign period were just part of strategies how to get the support of voters,” he added.
The outgoing Maguindanao governor pointed out that everybody should now move forward for the betterment of the province.
“Maguindanao is MagandaNow,” referring to his slogan that transformed the province into what it is today. Mangudadatu said he will support the programs of the new leadership of Maguindanao and assured there will be a smooth turnover of the province to the new leader.
As House of Representatives member, Mangudadatu said he will ask President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a “moratorium” on the war in the province.
He went emotional as he narrated how difficult life had been for poor Maguindanaons who were repeatedly displaced by armed hostilities, especially the children. (PNA)