Rep. Mangudadatu: No link between political dynasties, poverty in Maguindanao

Maguindanao Representative Zajid "Dong" Mangudadatu, who is running for senator in the May 2019 elections, believes there is no link between high poverty rate in his province and the presence of political dynasties.

"Walang koneksyon po 'yung pagiging political dynasty o maraming kaapelyido sa [kahirapan sa] Mindanao," Mangudadatu said in Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-off held Saturday.

"Ang cause ng poverty sa Mindanao, especially Maguindanao province, is due to mga away-away at saka mga giyera na 'di masolusyunan ng ating gobyerno," he added.

Mangudadatu, a member of a powerful political clan in Maguindanao, said wars prevent residents from working.

"So kung masosolusyunan po natin ang problema sa gyera dito sa Mindanao, I believe our country will be one of the richest countries in the world kasi nandyan po ang yaman eh," he said, citing the Ligawasan Marsh which he said is a possible source of oil but is often the venue of violent skirmishes between government forces and Moro rebels.

Mangudadatu said if he wins a seat in the Senate, his focus would be to create laws on counter-terrorism.

When asked by debate panelist Jessica Soho regarding his over P240 million declared net worth in 2017, Mangudadatu said he was a businessman before he entered the political arena.

"Bago po tayo naging pulitiko, ako po ay isang negosyante. We import and we deliver freshwater fish [sa] karamihan sa Mindanao," he said.

—KBK, GMA News