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2025 Cotabato City local elections
Local election in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte
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Local elections were held in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte on May 12, 2025, within the 2025 Philippine general election. The voters of Cotabato City elected for all of elective local posts in the city which are the mayor, vice mayor, and the ten electable city councilors of the Cotabato City Council. Voters also voted for Maguindanao del Norte's at-large congressional district as the city is a part of the congressional district. This is the first election in Cotabato City after the splitting of Maguindanao to Maguindano del Norte and del Sur.
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May 12, 2025
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| Registered | 135,999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 65.94%  8.79 pp[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mayoral election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Vice mayoral election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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City council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 of the 14 seats in the Cotabato City Council 6 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All elective positions in the city was won by the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, a party formed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014.
Background
Incumbent mayor Bruce Matabalao was elected in the 2022 Philippine general election defeating incumbent mayor Cynthia Guiani.[2] A petition was filed by Guiani against Matabalao for alleged vote buying saying that Matabalao's camp gave rice aid and P1,000 per individual in exchange for their votes for election day.[3] The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) junked the petition after the election,[4] however on April 23, 2025, COMELEC's 2nd division declared Guiani as the winner in 2022 after nullifying 36 clustered precincts in the city citing voting fraud.[5] COMELEC then set aside the 2022 proclamation of Matabalao but he refused to step down saying that the decision is not final.[6]
Electoral system
The voters of Cotabato City vote for the mayor and vice mayor using first-past-the-post voting where voters can choose one candidate and the candidate that receives the most votes will get elected to the position despite not achieving the majority of the votes. 10 out of the 14 city councilors of Cotabato City are elected using plurality block voting where the top ten candidates will get elected, voters may choose up to ten candidates but not more than ten.
Tickets
Source: COMELEC[7]
Administration coalition
| Position | # | Candidate | Political Party[a] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Mayor | 4. | Mohammad Ali "Bruce" Matabalao | UBJP | |
| For Vice Mayor | 2. | Johair Madag | UBJP | |
| For Councilors | 6. | Shalimar Candao | UBJP | |
| 8. | Michael Datumanong | UBJP | ||
| 10. | Faidz Edzla | UBJP | ||
| 12. | Florante "Popoy" Formento | UBJP | ||
| 22. | Anwar Malang | UBJP | ||
| 24. | Mohamad Ali Mangelen | UBJP | ||
| 25. | Guiadzuri Midtimbang II | UBJP | ||
| 26. | Nasrudin "Kap Jonas" Mohammad | UBJP | ||
| 27. | Joven Pangilan | UBJP | ||
| 34. | Mohammad Abu Jihad "Datu Raiz" Sema | UBJP | ||
Primary opposition coalitions
| Position | # | Candidate | Political Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Mayor | 3. | Frances Cynthia Guiani | NPC | |
| For Vice Mayor | 1. | Japal "Jayjay" Guiani III | NPC | |
| For Councilors | 11. | Hervey Emberga | NPC | |
| 16. | Danda Juanday | NPC | ||
| 18. | Romeo Lidasan | NPC | ||
| 19. | Moksal Lokua | NPC | ||
| 20. | Henry Macion | NPC | ||
| 23. | Dumugkao Mangelen | NPC | ||
| 30. | Eduardo Rabago | NPC | ||
| 32. | Alshamir Santiago | NPC | ||
| 33. | Abdullah Sekak | NPC | ||
| 40. | Sukarno Utto | NPC | ||
| Position | # | Candidate | Political Party[b] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Mayor | 1. | Johari "Butch" Abu | Lakas | |
| For Vice Mayor | 3. | Datu Bimbo Pasawiran | Lakas | |
| For Councilors | 1. | Hunyn Abu | Lakas | |
| 2. | Henjie Monte Ali | Lakas | ||
| 5. | Baby Ayunan | Lakas | ||
| 17. | Abubakar "Bobby" Katambak | Lakas | ||
| 28. | Maraouf Pasawiran | Lakas | ||
| 31. | Freddie Ridao | Lakas | ||
| 35. | Sukarno "Suk" Sema | Lakas | ||
| 36. | Norhassim Sinarimbo | Lakas | ||
| 37. | Kusin Taha | Lakas | ||
| 38. | Abdulrakim "Gabby" Usman | Lakas | ||
Independents
| Position | # | Candidate | Political Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Mayor | 2. | Hailah Dilangalen | Independent | |
| For Councilors | 3. | Arman Aman | Independent | |
| 4. | Analie Anastacio | Independent | ||
| 7. | Christina Chua | Independent | ||
| 9. | Nor-Aiyne "Bai Lorna Tingog" Ebrahim | Independent | ||
| 13. | Rizaldy Dick Verde Garcia | Independent | ||
| 14. | Mohaimen "James" Guiaman | Independent | ||
| 15. | Macmod Guiapar | Independent | ||
| 21. | Kagui Hammed Maguing | Independent | ||
| 29. | Parido Pigkaulan | Independent | ||
| 39. | Naut Usman | Independent | ||
Mayoral election
Incumbent mayor Bruce Matabalao of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) ran for re-election to a second term. There were 3 other candidates that he faced, they are former mayor and previous opponent Cynthia Guiani of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), incumbent vice mayor and 2022 running mate Butch Abu of Lakas–CMD (Lakas)[8] and doctor Hailah Dilangalen, an independent.
Candidates
Declared
- Butch Abu (Lakas), incumbent vice mayor of Cotabato City since 2022
- Hailah Dilangalen (Independent), doctor[9]
- Cynthia Guiani (NPC), former mayor of Cotabato City (2016-2022)
- Bruce Matabalao (UBJP), incumbent mayor of Cotabato City since 2022
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBJP | Bruce Matabalao (incumbent) | 45,578 | 52.35% | −1.99% | |
| Lakas | Butch Abu | 28,642 | 32.9% | N/A | |
| NPC | Frances Cynthia Guiani | 12,688 | 14.57% | −31.08% | |
| Independent | Hailah Dilangalen | 153 | 0.18% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 87,061 | 100.00% | |||
| UBJP hold | |||||
Vice mayoral election
Incumbent vice mayor Butch Abu of Lakas was eligible for re-election to a second term but ran for mayor, he was previously affiliated with the UBJP. 3 candidates ran to replace Abu, UBJP nominated former Barangay Poblacion 2 kagawad Johair Madag who ran against incumbent councilor Jayjay Guiani III of the NPC and Barangay Kalanganan chairman Datu Bimbo Pasawiran of Lakas.[8]
Candidates
Declared
Results
City council election
Summary
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Bangsamoro Justice Party | 333,377 | 47.17 | 10 | +3 | |
| Lakas–CMD | 259,995 | 36.79 | 0 | New | |
| Nationalist People's Coalition | 72,718 | 10.29 | 0 | –3 | |
| Independent | 40,663 | 5.75 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 706,753 | 100.00 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total votes | 89,673 | – | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 135,999 | 65.94 | |||
| Source: Rappler[10] | |||||
Retiring incumbents
- Abdillah Lim (NPC)
Incumbents who ran for another post
- Jayjay Guiani III (NPC), ran for vice mayor
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBJP | Popoy Formento (incumbent) | 41,350 | 30.40% | |
| UBJP | Kap Jonas Mohammad | 36,352 | 26.73% | |
| UBJP | Datu Raiz Sema | 34,591 | 25.43% | |
| UBJP | Michael Datumanong | 34,162 | 25.12% | |
| UBJP | Anwar Malang | 33,868 | 24.90% | |
| UBJP | Faidz Edzla | 31,890 | 23.45% | |
| UBJP | Guiadzuri Midtimbang II (incumbent) | 31,532 | 23.19% | |
| UBJP | Mohamad Ali Mangelen | 30,775 | 22.63% | |
| UBJP | Joven Pangilan | 29,632 | 21.79% | |
| UBJP | Shalimar Candao | 29,225 | 21.49% | |
| Lakas | Hunyn Abu (incumbent) | 28,362 | 20.85% | |
| Lakas | Baby Ayunan | 27,907 | 20.52% | |
| Lakas | Marouf Pasawiran (incumbent) | 27,032 | 19.88% | |
| Lakas | Suk Sema | 26,978 | 19.84% | |
| Lakas | Norhassim Sinarimbo | 26,327 | 19.36% | |
| Lakas | Freddie Ridao | 25,573 | 18.80% | |
| Lakas | Kusin Taha (incumbent) | 24,900 | 18.31% | |
| Lakas | Gabby Usman (incumbent) | 24,558 | 18.06% | |
| Lakas | Henjie Ali (incumbent) | 24,206 | 17.80% | |
| Lakas | Bobby Katambak | 24,152 | 17.76% | |
| Independent | Bai Lorna Tingog Ebrahim | 12,467 | 9.17% | |
| NPC | Eduardo Rabago | 11,528 | 8.48% | |
| NPC | Danda Juanday (incumbent) | 11,051 | 8.13% | |
| NPC | Henry Macion | 10,319 | 7.59% | |
| Independent | Analie Anastacio | 8,230 | 6.05% | |
| NPC | Dumugkao Mangelan | 7,505 | 5.52% | |
| NPC | Hervy Emberga | 7,004 | 5.15% | |
| NPC | Romeo Lidasan | 7,000 | 5.15% | |
| NPC | Sukarno Utto | 6,926 | 5.09% | |
| Independent | Christina Chua | 6,344 | 4.66% | |
| NPC | Alshamir Santiago | 4,491 | 3.30% | |
| NPC | Abdullah Sekak | 3,934 | 2.89% | |
| Independent | Dick Garcia | 3,227 | 2.37% | |
| NPC | Moksal Lokua | 2,960 | 2.18% | |
| Independent | Kagui Hammed Maguing | 2,882 | 2.12% | |
| Independent | Macmod Guiapar | 2,415 | 1.78% | |
| Independent | Naut Usman | 1,756 | 1.29% | |
| Independent | Arman Aman | 1,330 | 0.98% | |
| Independent | James Guiaman | 1,049 | 0.77% | |
| Independent | Parido Pigkaulan | 963 | 0.71% | |
| Total votes | 706,753 | 100.00% | ||
Notes
- Nationally, they are all members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
- Additionally, they are all members of the SIAP Party.