Familiar contenders challenge Dimaporo rule in Lanao del Norte’s local races

LANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines — For decades, the land of beauty and bounty has been under the Dimaporos’ rule.

The family’s control over the province can be traced as far back to 1949, with the election of the family’s patriarch Mohammad Ali Dimaporo to the congressional seat of the then-undivided Lanao province.

After Lanao was divided into predominantly Christian Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur in 1959, Ali chose to remain in Lanao del Norte and became its second governor in 1960.

When Ali won the province’s congressional seat in a 1965 recount, he was succeeded by his vice governor, Arsenio Quibranza, a Christian from Cebu.

Amid these political developments, Ali’s son Abdullah fell in love with Quibranza’s youngest daughter, Imelda. Although their fathers did not see eye to eye, Abdullah and Imelda were married in civil and Islamic rites in September 1977, earning them the nickname “Romeo and Juliet.”

With the union of its two political families, Lanao del Norte has not seen a governor outside of the Quibranza-Dimaporo clan since 1992. This chain started with Abdullah, who was Lanao del Norte’s governor from 1992 to 1998. The seat has since gone to his wife Imelda and their son, Mohamad Khalid. Imelda is currently serving her third consecutive term as governor.

Abdullah also served as Lanao del Norte’s 2nd District representative from 1998 to 2010. As he was term limited, his daughter Fatimah Aliah held the fort from 2010 to 2013, before Abdullah returned to the House of Representatives in 2013 and served three consecutive terms until 2022. Abdullah and Imelda’s daughter Aminah is currently the 2nd District representative.

Aliah is currentlly serving as Department of Social Welfare and Development undersecretary for Legislative Affairs.

With Imelda on her last term as Lanao del Norte governor, candidates fielded by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will attempt to dismantle the Dimaporo dynasty with promises of peace, stability, and additional economic opportunities.

Will Khalid and Imelda successfully switch posts?

Imelda and Khalid are on their third and final term. Khalid will try to hold the fort by running for Lanao del Norte governor while Imelda runs for Lanao del Norte 1st District representative.

Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional director for Northern Mindanao Sabdullah Abubacar is challenging Khalid for the provincial capitol. Abubacar had also served as DENR Soccsksargen chief.

Meanwhile, doctor and lawyer Joe Abbas (UNA) is going head to head against Imelda for 1st District representative. Abbas ran against Khalid for the congressional seat in 2022 but lost.

2nd District congressional race

As Aminah seeks a second term as Lanao del Norte’s 2nd District representative, she is challenged by Amer Nagamura Moner Sr., a former Shariah court judge.

Moner ran against Imelda for the gubernatorial post in 2019 and 2022 but lost both times. He garnered just 6,487 votes in his first run and just over 27,000 in his second campaign.

Race for Iligan City Hall

Lanao del Norte’s independent city is often left out of the province’s political discourse, but the budding metropolis has seen some of the province’s hottest races.

This year’s midterm polls are no exception, as incumbent Mayor Frederick Siao faces three challengers to his reelection bid.

Siao will face former city administrator and retired police colonel Roy Ga, who is running under the United Iligan Party slate of his predecessor, Iligan City Representative Celso Regencia. The UIP is running on its “Iligan Vision 2050” anchored on 15 development pillars.

His bid for a second term is also challenged by former mayor Franklin Quijano, who served as chair of the National Commission for Senior Citizens. Quijano was placed under a 90-day preventive suspension in July 2024 over allegations of gross neglect of duty and misconduct.

Siao’s third opponent is retired police general Rolando Anduyan, former Northern Mindanao police director.

Ex-cops and soldiers eye Iligan’s congressional seat

Regencia, also a former police chief, is going against a fellow retired cop for his reelection campaign.

Retired police brigadier general Graciano Mijares served as director of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region’s Police Regional Office before his retirement.

Meanwhile, a retired soldier, Colonel Seigred Espina, is also running for Iligan City’s lone district as an independent candidate.

Lawyer Manny Salibay and former Court of Appeals associate justice Oskie Badelles are also running for congressman. Badelles is running under Siao’s Asenso Iliganon Party. – Rappler.com