Eight years after the May 23, 2017 siege of Marawi City, residents voted to further consolidate the Gandamra family’s political influence, amid mixed opinions on social media over who bears responsibility for completing the city’s rehabilitation.

According to the latest data from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the most affected area in Marawi had remained largely a ghost town with around 8,200 of its former residents still living in transitional shelters. 

There are also about 300 cases of missing persons brought to the ICRC’s attention that remain unresolved. 

Mayor Majul Gandamra, who was barely a year into his first term when jihadist militants laid siege to the country’s Islamic city, will complete his third term next month.

The mayor is set to hand over the City Hall to his son, Shariff Zain, who won the city’s top post, while he slides down to the vice mayoral post.

Shariff Zain is 29 years old, the youngest mayor to be elected in the city. He was barangay chairman of Brgy. Lumbaca Madaya, part of the city’s Poblacion and “most affected area” during the siege. 

The 2017 siege loomed large during the campaign. A scan of Facebook posts early this year shows questions being raised about donations the city received for the rehabilitation projects, the allegedly “too expensive” business permits in the city, the situation in “ground zero,” the most affected area during the siege, and the prospects of having a Gandamra father-and-son rule the City Hall. 

Gandamra had critics online, mostly supporters of former Mayor Fahad “Pre” Salic. They attacked his performance during the siege and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But Salic failed to return to the City Hall. He was defeated by Shariff Zain by a margin of about 12,000 votes. 

The media scan shows that Mayor Gandamra’s performance during the siege and the pandemic was vigorously defended by his supporters on social media.

Another son, Shaquille Gandamra, former president of the Sangguninang Kabataan, won a seat in the city council. 

Meanwhile, the mayor’s wife, Princess Pala Lanto Gandamra, who also previously served as councilor in the city, will be eyeing a seat in the Bangsamoro parliament in the October elections. 

‘Deeper discussion of issues needed’

Drieza Lininding, leader of the civil society group Moro Consensus Group, lamented that the online discourse was largely “propaganda,” with netizens splitting into “Team Gandamra” and “Team Pre,” lacking the deeper discussions that could have better informed voters.

The Facebook posts brought up personal stories and comparison between the two mayors and their terms in office.

Salic also served three terms as mayor, from 2007 to 2016, and after which Gandamra was elected. He failed in his bid to become Lanao del Sur governor in 2016.

He was a key figure during the siege, accused by the military of being a “narco-politician” and a co-conspirator in the rebellion, owing to his ties with the Maute family behind the attack.

It is his second failed bid to return to City Hall after he was detained over his alleged role in the siege. The case has since been dismissed.

He received almost 18,000 votes compared to Shariff Zain’s over 30,000, showing loyal support despite the allegations he faced. 

He faced bigger questions—not about his alleged role in the siege that upended residents’ lives—but over a loan he took during his term, which the Gandamras seized on.

Salic was the candidate of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The Gandamras ran under the banner of Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Important issues

The elections are over but the challenges in Marawi City remain, said Lininding. 

He said the city leadership should focus on remaining issues slowing down the rehabilitation, including basic necessities and utilities such as water, food, and electricity.

  • Facilitating the return of Marawi internally displaced persons (IDPs) to ground zero and implementing housing programs for them.  
  • Upgrading the efficiency of the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB). As of May 20, 2025, the Facebook page of the MCB had awarded a total of 1,124 victims, with a total amount awarded of P1,930,476,749.43 out of the approved claims amounting to P2,544,160,295.80. 
  • Providing basic utilities such as electricity and water, as there are several occurrences of brownout due to an unstable power supply. Lininding said parts of the city rely on water rationing because the services of the Marawi City Water District (MCWD) are reliable only in parts affected by the siege. Electricity is also unstable as there are numerous power interruptions in a week. 
  • Conserving Lake Lanao. Lininding said they oppose the privatization of the lake’s hydroelectric power plants. 
  • Planning for food security and reducing reliance on neighboring provinces for food supply. 
  • Improving health services, including providing facilities to city hospitals.

The Moro Consensus Group did not endorse any candidate in the 2025 elections, although Lininding said members were free to express their political views. — PCIJ.org