JOLO, Sulu – Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) led the entire slate of the ruling political party here in filing their respective Certificates of Candidacy (CoCs) on Monday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office here.

Tan along with his running mates Abdel Anni for vice governor, Tupay Loong for 1st district representative, Asani Tammang for 2nd district representative with 14 mayors and eight board members filed their CoCs at the Sulu Provincial Comelec office on Monday.

Hundreds of local residents here including political leaders joined the group in heading to the Sulu provincial Comelec office to file their CoCs, a sign that he is loved by the people of the province, political observers said.

“Having that much of crowd troop to the Comelec office is not a joke. It means that people here love the governor despite the many criticism thrown against him by his political detractors,” they said.

At least 12 Sulu mayors led by Jolo Mayor Hussein Amin and Arthur Muksan of Siasi (Sulu) renewed their support to Tan in the coming polls, a sign that his gubernatorial political rivals here failed to have.

In an interview with newsmen, Tan said he will continue to strengthen agriculture through cooperatives which has been a success and continues to gain benefits for the constituents of Sulu.

It is still pre-mature for us to tell the people of Sulu about our program of government when elected because it is not yet campaign period, Tan said when asked about his plans when he get elected for the 2nd time as governor of Sulu.

“The only thing I can tell you and the people of Sulu is for us to continue on working to the needs of our people here and set aside politics at this time,” the governor said.

Tan is known as an “action man” among the Suluanos due to his strict policy on terrorism all geared towards achieving a peaceful province in this part of the country.

Tan is the provincial chairman of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and a staunch ally of presidential aspirant Gilbert Teodoro.