The political history of Nunungan is defined by a long tradition of clan-based leadership, shifting alliances, and recurring cycles of dominance that have shaped the municipality since its establishment in 1966. Local power has typically centered on a few influential families whose periods of leadership began with the foundational administration of the Alando family, continued with the three-decade tenure of the Manamparans, and later moved to the rising influence of the Mamay family. Elections in Nunungan often draw significant attention within Lanao del Norte due to intense rivalries, competing family blocs, and moments of conflict that emerge during highly contested political seasons. Despite these challenges, the municipality has continued to uphold the democratic process, with each change in leadership reflecting broader shifts in alliances, community sentiment, and local priorities.
Throughout its history, political transitions in Nunungan have been marked by both peaceful transfers of power and occasional periods of heightened tension, including contested elections and legal challenges. Prominent political figures have sometimes faced personal threats or opposition from rival factions, illustrating the high stakes of local governance. The influence of national politics is also evident, as changes in the central government have often shaped municipal leadership and priorities. Over time, these dynamics have fostered a political environment in which local leaders must balance clan interests, community needs, and broader provincial and national considerations.
Through the decades, political developments in Nunungan have demonstrated both the strong presence of dynastic influence and the community’s ability to adapt to new leaders, resulting in one of the most dynamic and closely observed political landscapes in the region.
Political Events and Controversies
May 1959: Creation of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur
On May 22, 1959, Republic Act No. 2228 divided the former Province of Lanao into Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, establishing separate administrative and congressional structures. Lanao del Norte included municipalities such as Baloi, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, Caromatan, and the municipal districts of Matungao, Pantao Ragat, Munai, Tangcal, and Nunungan, with Iligan City as its capital. [24]
Under this law, Nunungan became a municipal district of Lanao del Norte, laying the foundation for its conversion into a full municipality in 1966.
1966: Nunungan Becomes a Municipality
In 1966, Nunungan was officially converted from a municipal district into a full municipality, gaining the right to elect its own local officials. This transition marked the beginning of self-governance for the area under the Philippine local government system.
Mayor Ayaon Alando became the first official mayor of Nunungan, establishing the Alando family’s political leadership in the municipality. The change allowed Nunungan to manage its own administrative affairs, levy local taxes, and provide basic services independently from the provincial government of Lanao del Norte. [23]
1966–1986: The Era of the Alando Dynasty
Following its conversion into a full municipality, Nunungan was dominated politically by the Alando political clan. Mayor Ayaon Alando held office during the early years and was later succeeded by his son, Mayor Samo Alando, establishing a local political dynasty.
This period coincided with nationwide political turmoil, marked by tensions between the Marcos administration and opposition forces led by the Aquino movement. In Nunungan, Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan, a lawyer and neophyte politician aligned with the opposition, emerged as a challenger to the Alando family’s dominance, signaling the early stirrings of competitive local politics. [23]
1986: Rise of the Manamparan Political Family
Following the People Power Revolution, Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan was appointed Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Mayor of Nunungan. His appointment marked the beginning of the Manamparan family’s long-standing political influence in the municipality. The transition reflected the nationwide restructuring of local governments after the fall of the Marcos administration, with new leadership tasked to ensure stability and implement reforms. The Manamparans would maintain significant control over Nunungan politics for the next three decades. [23]
1998: Succession within the Manamparan Political Family
In the 1998 local elections, Aminoddin Manamparan, son of Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan, was elected municipal mayor of Nunungan. He succeeded his father, who had reached the maximum three consecutive terms allowed by law. Despite the term limit, Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan ran for vice mayor and won. This allowed the family to maintain significant influence over municipal governance.
May 2001: Jun Cawasa Briefly Disrupts Manamparan Rule
In the 2001 local elections, Jun R. Cawasa, a political neophyte and retired police official, defeated the Manamparans. This temporarily interrupted the Manamparan family’s long-standing control over Nunungan’s municipal government. Cawasa assumed office in June 2001, marking a rare change in the municipality’s leadership.
The disruption was brief. Legal challenges and special elections soon restored the Manamparans’ hold on the mayoralty. This episode reflected the growing political competition in Nunungan. [25] [26]
In August 2001, former mayor Samo Alando, son of former mayor Ayaon Alando, was shot and killed by armed assailants while walking in Iligan City. Police reports indicated that Alando had received prior death threats from unidentified individuals.
The attack occurred along DBP Road in Barangay Mahayahay. Alando died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities launched investigations and hot pursuit operations to apprehend the suspects. The assassination marked one of the most tragic events in Nunungan’s political history. [27]
October 2001: Manamparan Regains the Mayoralty
In October 2001, following a special election prompted by a protest over uncast votes in certain precincts, Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan was declared the winner of the Nunungan mayoral race.
The victory restored the Manamparan family’s control over the municipal government, ending the brief interruption caused by Jun Cawasa’s earlier win. Manamparan resumed office and continued the family’s political leadership in Nunungan. [25] [26]
November 2008: President Arroyo Visits Nunungan
President Arroyo greeting the residents of Nunungan after arriving by helicopter.
President Arroyo, accompanied by Governor Dimaporo, discussing local developments in Nunungan.
President Arroyo and Governor Dimaporo jointly holding the cash check to fund projects in Nunungan
In November 2008, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the Municipality of Nunungan during her official trip to Lanao del Norte. She was accompanied by Provincial Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo and Municipal Vice Mayor Lomala Sanayon. Residents welcomed the president warmly as she inspected several local developments.
During the visit, President Arroyo personally delivered the cash check to support efforts for the municipality’s development. [28]
April 2013: Ambush of Mayor Abdul Malik Manamparan
On April 25, 2013, Mayor Abdul Malik Manamparan survived a deadly ambush that targeted his convoy in Barangay Malaig. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people, including the mayor’s daughter, and injured seven others, according to police and military reports. Authorities indicated that the ambush was linked to a "rido" or family feud against the Manamparan clan. At the time, the 2013 elections saw at least 13 members of the Manamparan family running for various municipal posts, including mayor, vice mayor, and councilor, often competing against one another. [29] [30] [31] [32]
May 2013: New Leadership Amid Family Tragedy
In the May 2013 local elections, Abdul Manamparan II was elected mayor of Nunungan, succeeding his father, Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan, who had reached the maximum three consecutive terms allowed by law. Abdul Manamparan II is the younger brother of former Mayor Aminoddin Manamparan, continuing the family’s political presence in the municipality.
In the same elections, Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan ran for and was elected vice mayor, maintaining a leadership role despite term limits. This transition marked the beginning of a decline in the Manamparan political dominance, influenced in part by the tragic ambush in April 2013 that resulted in multiple fatalities within the family and the broader political network. [33]
May 2016: End of the Manamparan Era and the Rise of the Mamay Family
The May 2016 elections marked a historic turning point in Nunungan’s political landscape, ending the Manamparan family’s 30-year rule over the municipality. The mayoral race featured three prominent candidates: Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan, seeking to maintain the family’s longstanding influence; Marcos Mamay, a rising political figure; and Abubacar Alando, son of late Mayor Samo Alando and grandson of late Mayor Ayaon Alando, representing the legacy of the Alando family.
After a closely contested election, Marcos Mamay was elected mayor, while Jun Cawasa, who had briefly held the mayoralty in 2001, returned to office as vice mayor. The results reflected a significant shift in voter sentiment, favoring new leadership and signaling the decline of political dynasties that had dominated Nunungan for decades. The election also highlighted the emergence of the Mamay family as a new political force, altering the balance of power and initiating a new chapter in the municipality’s governance. [34] [35]
August 2016: Surrender of Most Wanted Suspect Linked to 2013 Ambush
On August 31, 2016, Pendatun Alando, identified as the most wanted criminal in Lanao del Norte, surrendered to authorities in the interior village of Dansalan in Sapad, Lanao del Norte. Alando was the prime suspect in the 2013 ambush targeting former Nunungan Mayor Abdul Malik Manamparan during the election campaign, an attack that resulted in at least 13 deaths and several injuries. [36]
December 2016: Nunungan Councilors Linked to Illegal Sawmills Dismantled
On December 22, 2016, four illegally operating sawmills were dismantled in the hinterland villages of Sapad, Lanao del Norte, by combined units of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). One sawmill was located in Sitio Karibang of Dansalan village, while the remaining three were in the village of Baning.
Police identified the suspected owners of the sawmills as Aminoden Makatanong and Lazaro Alamada, both municipal councilors of Nunungan, along with Dia Ampaso. Councilor Makatanong denied ownership of two sawmills near her residence, stating that they were operated by her sister, Salam Makatanong Penduruan, since October 2016.
Authorities noted that the sawmills were suspected of processing illegally cut lumber, in violation of DENR regulations, which no longer issue permits for new sawmills. Concerns were raised over illegal logging in Nunungan, particularly near Mount Inayawan, a protected site under the National Integrated Protected Area System Act of 1992. [37] [38]
May 2018: First Barangay Elections Under Mamay Administration
The May 2018 barangay elections were the first held under the administration of Mayor Marcos Mamay in Nunungan, Lanao del Norte. The elections were highly competitive, with reported clashes between candidates aligned with the Mamay and Manamparan factions in several barangays.
Incidents of riots and physical altercations were reported, along with allegations of mass cheating in multiple precincts. Despite these challenges, Mamay-aligned candidates secured key barangays, while the Manamparan faction lost several of its traditional strongholds. The results reinforced Mayor Mamay’s control over the municipality and further diminished the political influence of the long-dominant Manamparan family.
October 2018: Municipal Election Officer Requests Reassignment over Threats
In October 2018, Pangalian Lumabao, the municipal election officer of Nunungan, requested to be reassigned to a different location due to threats against his life. [39]
May 2019: Second Manamparan-Mamay Rivalry
The May 2019 local elections in Nunungan marked the second major confrontation between the Mamay and Manamparan political factions. The Mamay bloc fielded Marcos Mamay for mayor and Jun Cawasa for vice mayor, continuing their leadership from the previous term.
The Manamparan faction nominated Sainoden Manamparan Sr., nephew of Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan, for mayor, while Atty. Abdul Malik Manamparan ran for vice mayor. This election became Atty. Manamparan’s final appearance as a political candidate, though he remained active in subsequent years as an adviser and unifying figure for the Manamparan family’s political activities.
The Mamay bloc won decisively, consolidating their hold over Nunungan, while the election was marred by riots and violent clashes between supporters of the two factions. [42] [43]
In 2020, former Mayor Abdul Manamparan II was taken into custody by authorities from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 10 at his home in Upper Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City. Law enforcement reported that they recovered a quantity of illegal drugs during a search prompted by information from local informants.
Abdul Manamparan II denied the allegations, asserting that the raid involved irregularities. He was detained under strict security while the case was investigated.
In 2023, the charges against him were dismissed, and he was officially cleared of all accusations. However, the incident drew provincial attention and tarnished the Manamparan family’s reputation in the region, though it did not significantly alter their ongoing political involvement in Nunungan. [44] [45] [46] [47]
May 2022: Post-Pandemic Elections and Continued Mamay Dominance
The May 2022 elections in Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, were held in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Mamay bloc, with Marcos Mamay for mayor and Jun Cawasa for vice mayor, sought to maintain their established leadership.
The Manamparan faction fielded two candidates: Paisal Manamparan, who ran independently for mayor but endorsed his uncle, Jun Cawasa, for vice mayor; and Pangsayan Manamparan, who ran for mayor alongside Aminoddin Manamparan as his vice mayoral candidate.
Despite these efforts, the Mamay bloc won decisively, reaffirming their political control over Nunungan. The election underscored the continuing influence of the Mamay family and demonstrated the gradual decline of the Manamparan family’s electoral strength, even as they remained active participants in local politics. [48]
October 2023: Second Barangay Elections Under Mamay Administration
The October 2023 barangay elections in Nunungan marked the second cycle of local village-level contests under Mayor Marcos Mamay. The elections were marked by heightened political tension, as a rift developed between Vice Mayor Jun Cawasa and Mayor Mamay, with both leaders supporting different candidates across the barangays.
The Manamparan faction also fielded its own slate of candidates, attempting to regain influence in the municipality. The elections were reported to be intense, with incidents of riots and physical confrontations during polling. Allegations of mass cheating and manipulated results circulated widely on social media, including videos and images claiming irregularities.
Despite these challenges, all Mamay-aligned candidates secured victory, while the Manamparan faction lost their remaining barangays, including Barangay Petadun, the former political stronghold and center of power of the Manamparan family. The results further consolidated the Mamay bloc’s control over Nunungan and marked a continued decline of the Manamparan family’s political influence in the municipality. [49] [50] [51]
June 2024: Barangay Councilor Killed in Dimayon, Nunungan
On June 6, 2024, Otar Bada Alamada, a 57-year-old barangay councilor of Barangay Rebucon, Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, was shot and killed while visiting relatives in Barangay Dimayon, an isolated barangay in the municipality. Alamada sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot.
The suspect, identified as Adam Mamorasa, a resident of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, reportedly grabbed a firearm he was carrying and opened fire, wounding two local farmers, B’ra Andam (50) and Malik Guindo (40). Despite their injuries, Andam and Guindo were able to subdue Mamorasa and fatally shoot him.
Barangay Dimayon is located approximately 20 kilometers from the Nunungan police station and is accessible only by foot due to lack of mobile signal. Authorities recovered fired cartridges of 5.56mm and 30mm calibers at the scene and conducted follow-up investigations into the incident. [52]
November 2024: Ambush and Death of Election Officer in Nunungan
In November 2024, Mark Orlando Vallecer, 51, an acting election officer, was fatally ambushed by two assailants on a motorcycle in Curva Miagao, Salvador, while traveling to Cagayan de Oro. Vallecer was declared dead on arrival at Bontilao Hospital.
The incident raised concerns about the safety of election officials in politically tense areas. COMELEC Regional Director Atty. Renato Magbutay condemned the attack and vowed to pursue justice, emphasizing that the killing would not undermine the integrity of the elections. [53] [54] [55]
February 2025: Nunungan Designated Election Hotspot After Officer Ambush
Following the fatal ambush of acting election officer Mark Orlando Vallecer in November 2024, Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, was identified by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as a red-category election hotspot in February 2025. This designation indicated that the municipality had both a history of election-related incidents and the presence of serious armed threats.
The Philippine National Police and other relevant agencies increased monitoring and security in Nunungan, coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and regional disaster response teams. Authorities were placed on heightened alert under the “blue alert” status from May 11 to 14, 2025, in preparation for the upcoming midterm elections.
The classification of Nunungan as a red-category area highlighted the municipality’s ongoing vulnerability during politically sensitive periods and underscored the importance of protecting voters, election officials, and the community ahead of the 2025 polls. [56] [57]
May 2025: Birth of the Mamay Political Dynasty
In the May 2025 local elections, Sittie Nor-Alliah Mamay, daughter of outgoing Mayor Marcos Mamay, was elected municipal mayor of Nunungan, succeeding her father. Marcos Mamay ran for and won the position of vice mayor, creating a father-daughter tandem that secured the municipality’s top executive posts.
The victory marked the formal establishment of the Mamay political dynasty in Nunungan and made Sittie Nor-Alliah Mamay the first female mayor in the municipality’s history. The elections were decisively won by the Mamay bloc, reflecting strong voter support and continuity in local governance.
Sittie Nor-Alliah Mamay is also the daughter-in-law of former Magsaysay Mayor Dondon Omar, symbolizing a political alliance between the Mamays of Nunungan and the Omars of Magsaysay through marriage. [58] [59] [60]
