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.
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. 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. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) junked the petition after the election, 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. COMELEC then set aside the 2022 proclamation of Matabalao but he refused to step down saying that the decision is not final.
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
Administration coalition +United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) TicketPosition#CandidatePolitical PartyFor Mayor4.Mohammad Ali "Bruce" MatabalaoFor Vice Mayor2.Johair MadagFor Councilors6.Shalimar Candao8.Michael Datumanong10.Faidz Edzla12.Florante "Popoy" Formento22.Anwar Malang24.Mohamad Ali Mangelen25.Guiadzuri Midtimbang II26.Nasrudin "Kap Jonas" Mohammad27.Joven Pangilan34.Mohammad Abu Jihad "Datu Raiz" Sema
Primary opposition coalitions +Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) TicketPosition#CandidatePolitical PartyFor Mayor3.Frances Cynthia GuianiFor Vice Mayor1.Japal "Jayjay" Guiani IIIFor Councilors11.Hervey Emberga16.Danda Juanday18.Romeo Lidasan19.Moksal Lokua20.Henry Macion23.Dumugkao Mangelen30.Eduardo Rabago32.Alshamir Santiago33.Abdullah Sekak40.Sukarno Utto
+Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (LAKAS) TicketPosition#CandidatePolitical PartyFor Mayor1.Johari "Butch" AbuFor Vice Mayor3.Datu Bimbo PasawiranFor Councilors1.Hunyn Abu2.Henjie Monte Ali5.Baby Ayunan17.Abubakar "Bobby" Katambak28.Maraouf Pasawiran31.Freddie Ridao35.Sukarno "Suk" Sema36.Norhassim Sinarimbo37.Kusin Taha38.Abdulrakim "Gabby" Usman
Independents +Independent candidatesPosition#CandidatePolitical PartyFor Mayor2.Hailah DilangalenFor Councilors3.Arman Aman4.Analie Anastacio7.Christina Chua9.Nor-Aiyne "Bai Lorna Tingog" Ebrahim13.Rizaldy Dick Verde Garcia14.Mohaimen "James" Guiaman15.Macmod Guiapar21.Kagui Hammed Maguing29.Parido Pigkaulan39.Naut Usman
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) and doctor Hailah Dilangalen, an independent.
Candidates
Declared
Butch Abu (Lakas), incumbent vice mayor of Cotabato City since 2022 Hailah Dilangalen (Independent), doctor Cynthia Guiani (NPC), former mayor of Cotabato City (2016-2022) Bruce Matabalao (UBJP), incumbent mayor of Cotabato City since 2022
Results
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.
Candidates
Declared
Jayjay Guiani III (NPC), incumbent councilor since 2019 Johair Madag (UBJP), former barangay kagawad of Barangay Poblacion 2 Datu Bimbo Pasawiran (Lakas), incumbent barangay chairman of Barangay Kalanganan since 2023
Results
City council election
Summary
Retiring incumbents
Abdillah Lim (NPC)
Incumbents who ran for another post
Jayjay Guiani III (NPC), ran for vice mayor
Results
Notes
References