2025 Cotabato City local elections

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.

2025 Cotabato City local elections
May 12, 2025 (2025-05-12)
Registered135,999
Turnout65.94% Increase 8.79 pp[1]
Mayoral election
 
LAKAS
NPC
Candidate Bruce Matabalao Butch Abu Frances Cynthia Guiani
Party UBJP Lakas NPC
Running mate Johair Madag Datu Bimbo Pasawiran Jayjay Guiani III
Popular vote 45,578 28,642 12,688
Percentage 52.35% 32.9% 14.57%
Mayor before election

Bruce Matabalao
UBJP

 Elected mayor

Bruce Matabalao
UBJP

Vice mayoral election
 
UBJP
LAKAS
NPC
Candidate Johair Madag Datu Bimbo Pasawiran Jayjay Guiani III
Party UBJP Lakas-CMD NPC
Popular vote 38,528 32,233 14,683
Percentage 45.09% 37.72% 17.18%
Vice Mayor before election

Butch Abu
Lakas

 Elected Vice Mayor

Johair Madag
UBJP

City council
10 of the 14 seats in the Cotabato City Council
6 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Party UBJP Lakas
Seats won 10 0
Seat change Increase3 New
Popular vote 333,377 259,995
Percentage 47.17% 36.79%
Swing Decrease2.14 pp New
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party NPC Independent
Seats won 0 0
Seat change Decrease3 0
Popular vote 72,718 40,663
Percentage 10.29% 5.75%
Swing Decrease32.77 pp Decrease4.32 pp

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

United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) Ticket
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

Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) Ticket
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
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (LAKAS) Ticket
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

Independent candidates
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

2025 Cotabato City mayoral election results[10]
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

  • Jayjay Guiani III (NPC), incumbent councilor since 2019
  • Johair Madag (UBJP), former barangay kagawad of Barangay Poblacion 2[11]
  • Datu Bimbo Pasawiran (Lakas), incumbent barangay chairman of Barangay Kalanganan since 2023[12]

Results

2025 Cotabato City vice mayoral election results[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UBJP Johair Madag 38,528 45.09% −5.87
Lakas Datu Bimbo Pasawiran 32,233 37.72% N/A
NPC Jayjay Guiani III 14,683 17.18% −25.07
Total votes 85,444 100.00%
UBJP gain from Lakas

City council election

Summary

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
United Bangsamoro Justice Party333,37747.1710+3
Lakas–CMD259,99536.790New
Nationalist People's Coalition72,71810.290–3
Independent40,6635.7500
Total706,753100.00100
Total votes89,673–
Registered voters/turnout135,99965.94
Source: Rappler[10]

Retiring incumbents

  • Abdillah Lim (NPC)

Incumbents who ran for another post

  • Jayjay Guiani III (NPC), ran for vice mayor

Results

2025 Cotabato City Council election results[10]
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

  1. ↑ Nationally, they are all members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
  2. ↑ Additionally, they are all members of the SIAP Party.

References

  1. ↑ "NUMBER AND TURNOUT OF REGISTERED VOTERS AND VOTERS WHO ACTUALLY VOTED BY CITY/MUNICIPALITY - May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections (pg. 78)" (PDF). COMELEC. November 25, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  2. ↑ Sarmiento, Bong S. (May 13, 2022). "MILF party wins Cotabato City but loses big in Maguindanao". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Cotabato mayor files disqualification case vs. rival". GMA News Online. May 5, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ Sumangil, Franz R. (August 19, 2022). "Comelec junks former Cotabato mayor's protest". The Manila Times. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Guiani declared winner in 2022 Cotabato mayoral race, but Matabalao says it's 'not yet final'". April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ G, Herbie (April 24, 2025). "Comelec division voids 2022 Cotabato poll results, declares Guiani mayor". RAPPLER. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ "COMELEC - Certified List of Candidates 2025 (COTABATO CITY)" (PDF). COMELEC. November 6, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Fernandez, Edwin (October 5, 2024). "Cotabato City mayor files COC for reelection vs. 2 others". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  9. ↑ "2025 COC - Hailah Abdullah Dilangalen" (PDF). COMELEC. January 28, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "2025 LOCAL CONTESTS IN COTABATO CITY". Rappler. May 15, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  11. ↑ "2025 COC - Johair Suraik Madag" (PDF). COMELEC. January 28, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2025 COC - Datu Bimbo Ayunan Pasawiran" (PDF). COMELEC. January 28, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
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