Maguindanao massacre state witness seeks elective post in SSB

SULTAN SA BARONGIS, Maguindanao – After one of the suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre has filed his certificates of candidacy for mayor of a Maguidanao town on Monday, a star witness to the infamous carnage also filed today his candidacy, this time for vice mayor of a nearby town.Sukarno Uka” Badal, who was included as among the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre but turned state witness, filed his candidacy as Sultan sa Barongis vice mayoralty candidate with his running mate Lawyer Bobby Katambak, currently a board member of Maguindanao’s second district, as mayor.Both are running under the ruling Liberal Party. An emotional Badal said he never thought he can come back politically after his career was ruined by his inclusion in the list of suspects in the carnage.The Maguindanao massacre, seen as the country’s worst election related violence in recent history, claimed the lives of 58 persons, 32 of whom were journalists. It was Atty. Katambak who advised and convinced me to surrender and tell all about the massacre, now that I am back here, I want to continue serving my people,” Badal said.Katambak told reporters that Badal’s decision to turn state witness against those behind the massacre was an indication he want justice to prevail. It was the reason, Katambak said, why he partnered with the state witness. Justice for the people of Sultan sa Barongis is our battle cry, we are facing with huge challenges here, education, peace and order and most especially access to education,” Katambak said.Sultan sa Barongis is among the five towns in Maguindanao listed by both police and military as areas of immediate concern.”Badal’s former ally, Sultan sa Barongis Mayor Alidatu Angas, is seeking reelection.Sajid Islam Ampatuan, son of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr and among the suspects in the Maguindanao carnage, has filed his candidacy for mayor of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Monday. He is temporarily out on bail after posting P11 million bail bond.Esmael Lidasan, Sultan sa Barongis election officer, has appealed to all candidates to contribute in making next year’s election as peaceful as ever by simply obeying election policies and never engage in guns, gold and goons type of political campaign.