Maguindanao

Maguindanao (Template:IPA; Maguindanaon: Dairat nu Magindanaw; Iranun: Perobinsia a Magindanao; Template:Langx) was a province of the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). From 2014 to 2022, its provincial capital was Buluan,<ref name="mb" /> but the legislative branch of government, the Maguindanao Provincial Board, convened at the old provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat.<ref name=mindanews/> It bordered Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, Sultan Kudarat to the south, and Illana Bay to the west.

It is now used collectively to refer to the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, with which it was replaced with since September 18, 2022 after a division of the province was approved in a plebiscite.

History

Maguindanao Sultanate

The map of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in 1521, at its largest extent.

According to Maguindanao royal records, Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuan of Johor introduced Islam to the Maguindanaos at the end of the 15th century. He subsequently married a Maranao princess of Malabang and established the Sultanate of Maguindanao.

Its capital of Kuta Watu (modern-day Cotabato) formed the sultanate's heartland but its influence extended from the Zamboanga Peninsula to Sarangani Bay and Davao.

In the 1660s, Dutch vessels from Ternate and Tidore often stopped by Maguindanao to purchase rice, beeswax and tobacco.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Spanish attacks

The Spanish frequently attacked the sultanate starting in the 1600s. In the middle of the 19th century, the Spanish were able to build a military post at what is now Barangay Tamontaka, Cotabato City.

American rule

The historical province of Cotabato covered the present area of Maguindanao. In 1903, the American colonial government established the Moro Province and made Cotabato as one of its districts. Upon the conversion of the Moro Province into the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1914, the districts were made into provinces.<ref name="CotabatoGovPH-History">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="GovPH-Act2711">Template:Cite web</ref>

World War II

In 1942, the Japanese forces first attacked what is now Maguindanao.Template:Explain

In 1945, Maguindanao was liberated by allied Philippine Commonwealth troops and Maguindanaon guerrilla units after defeating the Japanese Imperial forces in the Battle of Maguindanao during the Second World War.Template:Explain

Third Philippine Republic onwards

Reinstitution as a province

The territory of the old province of Cotabato was reduced in 1966 when several of its municipalities were separated from it and constituted into the newly created province of South Cotabato.<ref name="ChanRobles-RA4849">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1973, Cotabato was dissolved when it was split to create three new provinces: Maguindanao, (North) Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.<ref name="GovPH-PD341">Template:Cite web</ref>

Maguindanao was the only Muslim-majority province of the four created out of the original Cotabato Province. In 1989, majority of its voters opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but Cotabato City did not. Despite this, the city would later serve as the provisional capital of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and host line agency offices for the province.

On August 23, 1992, 16 senior officers of the insurgent Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) operating in the province were arrested by intelligence operatives of the Philippine National Police, with officials considering it to be a significant hit against the organization's progress in the region.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Shariff Kabunsuan creation and nullification

Template:Main On October 31, 2006, Maguindanao voters approved the creation of a new province to be composed of 10 towns from the province.<ref name="PhilStar-MaguindanaoSplit">Template:Cite news</ref> Of more than 500,000 voters registered, 285,372 favored the creation of the province, and 8,802 voted against it. The new province, Shariff Kabunsuan, established through Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201 by the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, became the country's 80th province and the 6th in the ARMM. It was composed of the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Sultan Mastura, Parang, Buldon, Matanog and Barira.<ref name="RLA-ARMMGovPH">Template:Cite web</ref> However, in July 2008, the Supreme Court, in an 8–6 vote, nullified the province's creation, restoring its municipalities to Maguindanao, ruling that "Only Congress can create provinces and cities because the creation of provinces and cities necessarily includes the creation of legislative districts".<ref name="ABS-CBNNews">Template:Cite news</ref>

2009 election violence

Maguindanao guerillas in 1999

On November 23, 2009, a 2010 gubernatorial election caravan supporting Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan, was attacked.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fifty-seven people were killed, including Mangudadatu's wife and sisters, supporters, local journalists, and bystanders.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On December 4, 2009, a number of homes belonging to the Ampatuan political family were raided in connection with the massacre.<ref name="RFI-2009Massacre">Template:Cite news</ref>

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially declared martial law in the province of Maguindanao on December 5, 2009, Saturday morning.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In a press conference past 7 am, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced Proclamation No. 1959 declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the province of Maguindanao, except for certain areas identified as bailiwicks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) separatists.<ref name="PhilStar-2009MartialLaw">Template:Cite news</ref>

The declaration of martial law led to the "arrests without warrants" of other members of the Ampatuan clan who have been linked to the November 23 massacre of 58 civilians.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The 44 police officers who perished during the clash

On August 15, 2011, Mangudadatu and his convoy were ambushed as they were on their way to his birthday celebration.

Mamasapano clash

Template:Main On January 25, 2015, 44 members of the Special Action Force were killed after they killed the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir aka Marwan, by allegedly Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2016 El Niño

Template:Main In February 2016, Maguindanao experienced the effects of the 2014–16 El Niño, causing destruction on rice and corn fields due to drought.<ref name="philstar">Template:Cite news</ref> The province declared a state of calamity in response to the damages caused.<ref name="philstar" />

Abolition and division

Template:Main In the 17th Congress, then House Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sema (barred by law to run for another term in her current district in 2019) introduced a bill on March 2, 2017, seeking to establish a new province called Maguindanao North.<ref name="hb5185">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="bta22">Resolution from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority:
—Proposed Resolution No. 248
—Resolution No. 83
All were retrieved September 23, 2022.</ref>

Later in the 18th Congress, two new House bills were filed: one by First District Rep. Datu Roonie Sinsuat Sr., Sema's successor, seeking the creation of Western Maguindanao; another by Second District Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu with same naming proposal as Sema. A substitute bill was later authored by both Maguindanao representatives along with Tarlac Third District Rep. Noel Villanueva, and approved in the final reading in 2020.<ref name="bta22" /> In the Senate, three bills were also filed seeking for the same division with Sen. Bong Revilla pursuing instead the same naming proposal as Sinsuat. This time, those bills, except one by Revilla, would name the divided provinces as Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the substitute bill in the House, Northern Maguindanao will consist the municipalities that became part of Shariff Kabunsuan along with Talitay, and its designated provincial capital will be Datu Odin Sinsuat, while the capital of Southern Maguindanao will be Buluan. Both proposed provinces will comprise a lone legislative district. Prior to the final version, the municipalities of Datu Anggal Midtimbang (by Sema and Mangudadatu) and South Upi (by Sinsuat) were proposed to became part of Maguindanao North/Western Maguindanao; Sultan Kudarat was proposed by Mangudadatu to be the capital of the then-proposed province.

The proposed division was signed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte on May 27, 2021, as Republic Act No. 11550, with new provinces to be named Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur (named as the mother province of Maguindanao).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The original schedule of the plebiscite, to be supervised by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), was in September 2021, ninety days after the effectivity of the law, but was postponed as the COMELEC was preparing for the 2022 general election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

RA No. 11550 was ratified on September 17, 2022, in a plebiscite, thus dividing Maguindanao. Among the province-wide plebiscites, it was the most participated in terms of number of registered and actual voters, with the voter turnout as the second highest, only behind that of the 1998 plebiscite creating and taking Compostela Valley from Davao del Norte.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With that division, the number of provinces in the country has raised to 82.

A transition period would take place which lasted until January 9, 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Maguindanao was situated in the central section of Mindanao, bordered by Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, Sultan Kudarat to the south, and Illana Bay to the west.

Administrative divisions

Maguindanao comprised 36 municipalities, further subdivided into 508 barangays. Cotabato City, although geographically grouped with Maguindanao, was administratively independent from the province.

The province was divided into two congressional districts. In October 2006, the first congressional district was split off into a new province, Shariff Kabunsuan. However, the ARMM's Act creating the province was nullified by the Supreme Court in July 2008, on the basis that creation of a province is a function of the Philippine legislature. The area since reverted to the province of Maguindanao.

City Template:Small municipality		DistrictTemplate:PSGC detail	Population			Template:PSGC rubric	AreaTemplate:PSGC detail		Density		Template:Abbr	CoordinatesTemplate:Ref label
			Template:SmallTemplate:PH census		Template:SmallTemplate:PH census		Template:Small	Template:Nowrap	Template:Small	Template:Nowrap
Ampatuan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	17,800	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Barira		1st	Template:Percent and number	19,686	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	14	Template:Coord
Buldon		1st	Template:Percent and number	33,729	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	15	Template:Coord
Buluan	†	2nd	Template:Percent and number	38,106	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	7	Template:Coord
Cotabato City	∗∗	Lone	—	299,438	271,786	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	37	Template:Coord
Datu Abdullah Sangki		2nd	Template:Percent and number	17,079	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	10	Template:Coord
Datu Anggal Midtimbang		2nd	Template:Percent and number	13,339	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	7	Template:Coord
Datu Blah T. Sinsuat		1st	Template:Percent and number	16,533	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	13	Template:Coord
Datu Hoffer Ampatuan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	16,295	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Datu Montawal		2nd	Template:Percent and number	31,265	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Datu Odin Sinsuat		1st	Template:Percent and number	76,332	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	34	Template:Coord
Datu Paglas		2nd	Template:Percent and number	20,290	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	23	Template:Coord
Datu Piang		2nd	Template:Percent and number	28,492	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	16	Template:Coord
Datu Salibo		2nd	Template:Percent and number	15,062	Template:PAGR	–	–	–	–	17	Template:Coord
Datu Saudi Ampatuan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	20,330	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	8	Template:Coord
Datu Unsay		2nd	Template:Percent and number	12,490	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	8	Template:Coord
General Salipada K. Pendatun		2nd	Template:Percent and number	24,004	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	19	Template:Coord
Guindulungan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	16,071	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Kabuntalan		1st	Template:Percent and number	16,794	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	17	Template:Coord
Mamasapano		2nd	Template:Percent and number	22,354	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	14	Template:Coord
Mangudadatu		2nd	Template:Percent and number	14,864	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	8	Template:Coord
Matanog		1st	Template:Percent and number	23,269	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	8	Template:Coord
Northern Kabuntalan		1st	Template:Percent and number	14,251	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Pagalungan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	31,891	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	12	Template:Coord
Paglat		2nd	Template:Percent and number	11,207	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	8	Template:Coord
Pandag		2nd	Template:Percent and number	13,795	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	8	Template:Coord
Parang		1st	Template:Percent and number	73,328	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	25	Template:Coord
Rajah Buayan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	17,423	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Shariff Aguak		2nd	Template:Percent and number	34,376	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	13	Template:Coord
Shariff Saydona Mustapha		2nd	Template:Percent and number	16,442	Template:PAGR	–	–	–	–	16	Template:Coord
South Upi		2nd	Template:Percent and number	35,990	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Sultan Kudarat		1st	Template:Percent and number	82,758	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	39	Template:Coord
Sultan Mastura		1st	Template:Percent and number	21,712	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	13	Template:Coord
Sultan sa Barongis		2nd	Template:Percent and number	22,547	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	12	Template:Coord
Talayan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	16,042	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	15	Template:Coord
Talitay		2nd	Template:Percent and number	13,328	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	9	Template:Coord
Upi		1st	Template:Percent and number	45,444	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	23	Template:Coord
TotalTemplate:Ref label				1,173,933	944,718	Template:PAGR	—Template:Ref label	—Template:Ref label	—Template:Ref label	—Template:Ref label	508	Template:Small

The province saw establishments of new municipalities, especially during the 2000s. Then ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) secretary Dick Mali said such establishments would help in "decentralizing functions and resources" and provide the people "more efficient public service and governance from their public officials." However, Benedicto Bacani of the Institute of Autonomy and Governance in the Notre Dame University said such acts are methods to prevent potential conflicts between political families by having their own local government units where they can have governmental positions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Demographics

The population of Maguindanao in the 2020 census was 1,667,258 people. When Cotabato City was included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 1,667,258 people.

The majority (64.5 percent) of the people in Maguindanao were Maguindanaoans. The Iranuns which dominate the northern towns of Parang, Barira, Buldon and Matanog made up the second largest group with 18.4 percent. The Tedurays, which are the Lumads of the southwestern highlands of the province, made up 8.4 percent of the entire population, while Hiligaynons and Cebuanos constituted the remaining significant groups in the province with each making up 3.2 percent of the population.

The main native languages were Maguindanao and Iranun, while Tagalog had emerged as the primary language among younger generations and was the primary medium of education, making it the province's lingua franca.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Chavacano, and, to the lesser extent, Ilocano were also spoken by Ilocano settlers from Northern Luzon, with the Chavacano dialect spoken in Cotabato City being called Cotabateño spoke by settlers from Zamboanga City, which evolved from the Zamboangueño dialect and Cebuano as spoken as the lingua franca of most of Mindanao who are settlers from Visayas. Teduray, also native to the province, was spoken in the municipalities of Upi, South Upi, and Datu Blah T. Sinsuat. English, being one of the country's official languages, was also spoken, while Arabic was taught in Islamic schools.

Religion

Maguindanao inhabitants are predominantly practitioners of Islam which comprises 82.99% of the population,<ref name="PSA">Template:Cite web</ref> majority of which are followers of Sunni Islam. A minority are Christians (mostly Roman Catholics), who were mostly Cebuanos, Ilonggos and Chavacanos.Template:Citation needed Roman Catholics of Maguindanao fell under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kidapawan, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cotabato. Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) had several locales in Maguindanao.

Government

Maguindanao was divided into two congressional districts, which elected members to the House of Representatives. For the brief period that the province of Shariff Kabunsuan existed, Maguindanao became a lone-district province. Since the appointment of a new set of provincial officials for the reunified province of Maguindanao by the ARMM Governor in January 2009, the provincial government reverted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan district configuration from before Shariff Kabunsuan was created.

Having elected to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Maguindanao also sent six representatives (three per SP district) to the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly that convened in Cotabato City.

Provincial capital

Template:Multiple image When the province was established in 1973, the designated seat of government was the municipality of Maganoy.<ref name="GovPH-PD341" /> The first appointed governor, Simeon Datumanong, held office in Limpongo,<ref name=pcij/> a former barangay in Maganoy which is now part of the municipality of Datu Hoffer Ampatuan.

Datumanong's successor Zacaria Candao, on the other hand, held office at P.C. Hill,<ref name=pcij/> the site of the former headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> in Cotabato City, an autonomous chartered city not under Maguindanao's provincial jurisdiction.

In 1977 following the resignation of Candao, President Ferdinand Marcos moved the province's seat of government to the municipality of Sultan Kudarat (hometown of the newly appointed governor Sanggacala Baraguir) by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1170.<ref name="pd1170">Template:Cite web</ref> During his term Baraguir held office at the then-newly constructed provincial capitol in that municipality's Barangay Simuay Crossing.<ref name=pcij/>

The next governor, Sandiale Sambolawan, held office in his hometown of Maganoy following his election to the governorship in 1980.<ref name=pcij/> In an attempt to legitimize the restoration of Maganoy's status as the seat of provincial government, Batas Pambansa Blg. 211 was enacted in 1982, but with the explicit provision that the change will only take effect after a plebiscite affirms the transfer.<ref name="bp211">Template:Cite web</ref> A plebiscite was scheduled for December 18, 1982,<ref name="proc2245">Template:Cite web</ref> but was never administered,<ref name="philstar2">Template:Cite web</ref> thus making the municipality of Sultan Kudarat still capital of Maguindanao by law (de jure), but Maganoy being the capital in practice (de facto). Following the end of the Marcos Regime, the next two governors – Zacaria Candao (1986–1992; 1995–2001) and Norodin Matalam (1992–1995) – both held office in the existing capitol at Sultan Kudarat thereby restoring the municipality's status as both de jure and de facto provincial capital from 1986 to 2001.

Despite the lack of legal justification in the form of a law amending P.D. No. 1170 of 1977 or the passage of a supporting Sangguaniang Panlalawigan (SP) resolution, the next governor, Andal Ampatuan Sr. (governor from 2001 to 2008), and his successor, son Sajid Ampatuan (2008–2009), held office in the Ampatuan clan stronghold of Shariff Aguak (renamed from Maganoy in 1996<ref name="MMMA45">Template:Cite web</ref>), citing security concerns connected to clan rivalry.<ref name="mindanews" /> A new Template:PH peso218-million provincial capitol complex, inaugurated in 2009 in the presence of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,<ref name="arroyo">Template:Cite web</ref> was located adjacent to the homes of the Ampatuans,<ref name=pcij/> and sat on a piece of Amaptuan clan land that had not been legally deeded to the government.<ref name="Unson">Template:Cite news</ref> The Ampatuans were even known to spend more time within the "satellite offices" they set up within their private properties, despite though the new capitol being located adjacent to their homes.<ref name="mindanews2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Esmael Mangudadatu, who took office after defeating Andal Ampatuan Jr. in the 2010 gubernatorial election, cited security concerns when he decided to work from a "satellite office," named the Rajah Buayan Silongan Peace Center, in his hometown of Buluan;<ref name="pcij">Template:Cite web</ref> this move was supported by Resolution No. 5, series 2010, of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Maguindanao.<ref name="mindanews3">Template:Cite web</ref> SP Resolution No. 78, dated May 3, 2011, further allowed the transfer of the legislative branch of the provincial government (Sangguniang Panlalawigan) to the rehabilitated old capitol site in Barangay Simuay Crossing, Sultan Kudarat.<ref name="mindanews" /> This effectively made both Buluan and Sultan Kudarat – located 120 kilometers apart by road – the seats of the executive and legislative branches of provincial government respectively.<ref name="mindanews2" />

On April 3, 2012, the SP of Maguindanao issued Resolution No. 132, reiterating that the town of Sultan Kudarat was the capital of Maguindanao.<ref name="mindanews">Template:Cite web</ref> However this was superseded by a new resolution passed in 2014 naming Buluan the new capital of Maguindanao.<ref name="mb">Template:Cite web</ref> Buluan's Rajah Buayan Silongan Peace Center then served as the provisional capitol building, pending the completion of the executive building in the new capitol complex.<ref name="pcij" /> However, the legislative branch of provincial government, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Maguindanao, continued to hold sessions in the rehabilitated buildings of the old provincial capitol in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat.<ref name=mindanews/>

The Ampatuan-built former provincial capitol complex in Shariff Aguak, initially planned to be converted for public school use,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was planned to become the new headquarters of the ARMM's Bureau of Fire Protection and eventually became an infantry brigade of the Philippine Army.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, incumbent governor Bai Mariam Mangudadatu held her office in the Shariff Aguak Provincial Capitol and planned to convert the Buluan provincial capitol to a district hospital.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Following the provincial division as approved in the 2022 plebiscite, Section 5 of Republic Act No. 11550 officially designated Buluan as the capital of the mother province of Maguindanao del Sur where Shariff Aguak is also located. Sultan Kudarat municipality was designated to Maguindanao del Norte but Datu Odin Sinsuat will be designated as its capital.

Musical heritage

Brass gongs used as a main melodic instrument in the Kulintang ensemble.

The native Maguindanaon culture revolved around Kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines. Template:Clear

External links

• Template:OSM relation
• COMELEC Resolution No. 8169
• COMELEC Plebiscite Results for 3 new Maguindanao municipalities
• Local Governance Performance Management System