COTABATO CITY (August 10, 2026) — Two officials, from what is popularly known as the most peaceful municipality in Maguindanao del Norte, had pledged support for efforts of the Commission on Elections, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, all units of the Navy’s 2nd Marine Brigade and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to ensure peaceful and clean September 14 parliamentary polls in the province.
Maguindanao del Norte, one of the five provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, has 12 towns, one of which is Datu Blah Sinsuat, whose mayor, Raida Tomawis Sinsuat, is spouse of Maguindanao del Norte’s vice governor, Marshall Sinsuat. Vice Gov. Sinsuat had served as mayor of Datu Blah Sinsuat prior to his election as Maguindanao del Norte’s vice governor during the May 12, 2025 local elections.
Mayor Sinsuat, chairperson of the multi-sector Datu Blah Sinsuat Municipal Peace and Order Council, and Vice Gov. Sinsuat had separately relayed to reporters that they shall help push forward the joint election security missions of the Comelec, the 6th ID, the units of the Philippine Marine Corps and PRO-BAR, meant to ensure peaceful and honest elections in their municipality and in towns around.
Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, acting commander of the Army’s 6th ID, said on Monday, August 10, that he and his subordinate officers in the division appreciate the separate commitments of Mayor Sinsuat and Vice Gov. Sinsuat.
Vice Gov. Sinsuat is not a political warlord, according to Moro and Teduray community leaders in his hometown, the seaside Datu Blah Sinsuat in west of Maguindanao del Norte, touted as the fishing capital of the province.
“As elected officials it is our bounden duty to help the Comelec, the police and the military keep electoral exercises safe and orderly,” Vice Gov. Sinsuat said.
The Comelec, all units of the military’s Western Mindanao Command in BARMM and PRO-BAR are now all set for the first ever September 14 parliamentary elections in the autonomous region.
Captain Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of PRO-BAR, said their regional director, Police Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia, is thankful to the Sinsuat couple for their support to the Comelec, the police and military’s joint election security initiatives.
Photo shows the couple Mayor Sinsuat and Vice Gov. Sinsuat. []