Personal Information

Birthdate: September 23, 1974

Age on election day: 50 years old 

Birthplace: Manila

Residence: Barangay RH4 (Rosary Heights IV), Cotabato City

Civil status: single

Profession/occupation (as stated in COC): NGO worker

Education

• BA Journalism, University of the Philippines Diliman (1995)

Career

• Secretary-general, Moro Christian People’s Alliance (1999-present)
• Chairperson, Suara Bangsamoro Organization (2010-2016)
• Co-chairperson, Sandugo - Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination (2022-present)

Candidacy in the 2025 Philippine elections

Position sought: Senator

Party: Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan)

Period of residence in the Philippines up to the day before May 12, 2025: 50 years 7 months

Registered voter of: Barangay Bayanga Sur, Matanog, Maguindanao del Sur

Official social media platforms

• Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/meklidasan/
• Facebook User ID: 467256839793682
• X: @meklidasan
• TikTok: @meklidasan

Campaign platform (verbatim)

Itaguyod ang Karapatan ng Mamamayan

• Itigil ang red-tagging, terror-tagging, pagsampa ng gawa-gawang kaso at iligal na pag-aresto.
• Kilalanin ang kolektibong karapatan sa lupang ninuno at sariling pagpapasya.
• Tiyakin ang karapatan sa Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) sa mga proyekto sa lupang ninuno. 
• Paglaban sa militarisasyon at pambobomba sa komunidad.
• Bigyang prayoridad sa mga pangunahing serbisyo. Bigyang-diin ang edukasyon, kabuhayan, at kalusugan lalo na sa kanilang mga komunidad.

Isulong ang Kapayapaan

• Harapin at tugunan ang mga ugat ng tunggalian sa ating bansa.
• Kamtin ang hustisya para sa mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao at pananagutin ang mga salarin.
• Magpanday ng batas na magtatanggol ng sibil, pampulitika, at pang-ekonomiya at sosyo-kultural na karapatan.

Paunlarin ang Kultura

• Pahalagahan at paunlarin ang kultura ng mga Moro at Katutubo.
• Itigil ang diskriminasyon at hikayatin ang pagrespeto sa kultura.
• Itaguyod ang paggalang sa pagkakaiba-iba ng kultura sa bansa.

Plataporma ng Team Mekithappen
Para sa Karapatan, Kultura at Kalayaan

1. Uphold the Right to Self-Determination and Genuine Autonomy of the Moro and Indigenous Peoples

• Review the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Ensure Indigenous and Moro Peoples full participation in national decision-making processes, with mechanisms for genuine autonomy at regional and local levels.

2. Protecting Ancestral Domains and Resources from Exploitation

• Enact stronger laws and regulations that safeguard ancestral lands and territories from large-scale mining, energy projects and other destructive industries. Ensure the exercise of Indigenous and Moro communities right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for all development projects, with strict penalties for violations by corporations and state entities.

3. Advancing Peace Based on Justice and Demilitarization

• Advocate for peace talks that address the root causes of conflict in Indigenous and Moro territories, particularly militarization and land dispossession.
• Demand the withdrawal of military and paramilitary forces from Indigenous lands, and create transitional justice mechanisms that heal communities affected by state-sponsored violence.
• Justice and fair compensation for the victims of forced evacuation, destruction of houses and properties due to military operations, illegal arrest and detention.

4. Promoting Sustainable, Self-Determined Development

• Support legislative initiatives prioritizing Indigenous-led sustainable development programs in agriculture, education, and healthcare. These initiatives should be rooted in traditional knowledge systems, ensuring Indigenous and Moro peoples benefit directly from the natural wealth within their lands and territories while promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

5. Upholding Indigenous and Moro Peoples’ Human Rights

• Introduce policies to strengthen human rights protection mechanisms, with special attention to defending the civil, political, and economic rights of Indigenous and Moro Peoples including providing legal assistance, and ensuring accountability for perpetrators.

Election history

ELECTION YEAR	POSITION SOUGHT	PARTY LIST	OUTCOME
2022	Party-list representative (third nominee)	Bayan Muna	lost: Bayan Muna received 219,848 votes and ranked 63rd

Source:

Personal Information
Source: COC, PSGC

Education
Sources: candidate’s bio, candidate’s bio

Career
Source: candidate’s bio

Candidacy in the 2025 Philippine elections
Sources: COC, Comelec, candidate’s platform

Election history
Source: GMA Integrated News Research, Comelec