Datu Djimbangan

Datu Djimbangan (Guimbangan or Jimbangan[1]) - known as Midted Sa Inged (Superintendent of the polity) of the Sultanate of Kudarangan, is the son of Sultan Bayao Bin Sultan Maitum, cousin of Datu Uto and elder brother of Sultan Tambilawan of Kudarangan and adviser to Datu Ali in the war against Pre-Spanish and the Pre-Americans Era. Datu Djimbangan lives at the old Spanish fort of Libungan (now known as Libugan, Cotabato), his only claim to distinction as he has but a small following. He is also known to Kabuntalan nobles as Datu Masbud (Fat) because he is very fat, hot tempered and inclined to be unreconstructed. He is also known as the thievish chieftain to the Spanish Governor of Cotabato for that once could come to Datu Djimbangan’s hand might well counted as lost.[2]

Datu Djimbangan
Midted Sa Inged of Kudarangan
Diedc. Early 1900s
Names
Datu Djimbangan Bin Sultan Bayao Bin Sultan Maitum
HouseBuayan
FatherSultan Bayao
ReligionSunni Islam

Datu Djimbangan was suspected of being implicated in the murder of a soldier of the thirty-first infantry in December 1900 though it has never been proven against him. He depends for protection upon his brother Datu Ali, who is fond of him.

When the Spanish forces evacuated Cotabato in 1899, Datu Piang felt sure that the Spaniards would never be again in authority at Cotabato, he begged Governor Vilo, the latter governor of Christian population, to let him have twenty rifles to defend himself against a rival. The Christian governor agreed to this, and week by week Datu Piangʼs demands grew until, at length, all the rifles in the possession of the Christians passed to the Moros. But there still remained some cannons, and Datu Piang, having represented the necessity of making war on another chief up the Cotabato River, Vilo was persuaded to lend them to him. Suddenly Datu Piang, his son-in-law Datu Ali and his brother, Datu Djimbangan, at the head of a large party of armed Moros, fell upon and slaughtered the Christians. Viloʼs head was cut off.[3][4][5]

Datu Uto and his allies Datu Piang along with loyal moro datus marched into the town, killing and terrorizing Christian Filipinos. The Christians who were unable to escape were carried off as slaves into the interior. He and his companions made their selections for themselves, leaving the remainder for their followers.[6] As a cruel aftermath, Datu Djimbangan (or Guimbangan) "promptly caused the Filipina women of the place to be stripped and compelled to march before him on the public plaza in a state of nudity.[7][8][9][10][11]

Datu Djimbangan, a qualified leader of Sultanate of Bwayan[12] and is reputed to be one of the craftiest Moros in the Cotabato valley and is supposed to have been largely responsible for the attitude taken by Datu Ali in opposing American authorities. He took the field in company with Datu Ali and was present in the Sar-Raya fort at the time of its destruction by the troops under General Wood' on March 11, 1904. After the battle, He was captured by Captain Thomas W. Darrah, at his Rancheria by a detachment under command of Major C. M. Truit, 23rd infantry. Datu Djimbangan was trying to hide his ponderous hulk behind a coconut tree when discovered by Captain Darrah, who leaped across a small stream and sprang upon the astounded Moro.[10]

Ending of Slavery

In December 1903, Moro Province announced the anti-slavery law. Wood and Taft thought that the Maguindanaw would continue to follow the lead of colonial progress. Instead, the declaration of abolition destroyed the political and economic system of indirect rule over the whole valley through Datu Piang in Cotabato. The pronouncement of anti-slavery law became "radical" measure through prominent Taosug, Maranao, and Maguindanaw datus to launched rebellions against it. The first rebellion was led by Taosug Chieftain Panglima Hassan when the American ignored his two requests to return his twelve runaway slave who received protections from Americans troops in Jolo. The Moro's fled and the Americans burned the fort.[13] Hassan surrendered but then escaped,[14] which led Wood to destroy every hostile cotta he encountered, resulting in the death of Datu Andung on Mount Suliman.[13] Although never capturing Hassan, Wood did end up killing 1,500 Moros, which included women and children.[13] The uprising ended in March 1904, when Hassan and two others were cornered by 400 men under Scott's command at Bud Bagsak. It took 34 gunshots to finally kill Hassan.

Datu Ali on the other hand, who is the prominent moro chieftain and a raising leader of the north, pledge together with his allied moro datus to fight and obeisance that they would not submit to any interference with their slave trading and holding and who is trying to impose Christianity.[13] In May 1904, Datu Ali ambushed seventeenth Infantry killing two officers and seventeen men.[15] Despite of Woods condemnation of Moros, he knew that the anti-slavery law will proved the flashpoint. It arouse a great deal of opposition among the Moro Datus especially Datu Ali and his brother Datu Djimbangan who's making a good deal of money in slave trading. The so-called anti-slavery law ignited their general contempt for American Authority. General Leonard Wood also reported that all of the Datus except Datu Piang is united to resist the American rule for the operation of the slave law.[16]

Battle of Fort Siranaya (Capture of Datu Djimbangan)

In March 1905, a sizeable band of Datu Ali’s men was at the fort Siranaya (currently known as Sar-Raya) when U.S. troops attacked, killing many of the defenders and capturing Datu Djimbangan,[17] leader and brother of Datu Ali and held as hostage forcing Datu Ali to surrender. Datu Ali refuse to yield and was encourage to continue the resistance by datus of Upper Cotabato (Datu Ampatuan of Maganoy, Datu Mopuk of Dapitan, Datu Tambilawan of Libungan, Datu Manalintao of Madridagao, Datu Argao of Silag, and Datu Sansaluna).[18] The extant records of prosecutions for slavery in the Cotabato District are suggestive of the politically sensitive enforcement of the anti-slavery law. Notably, Datu Djimbangan was captured after the fall of Datu Ali kota in March 1905 by Captain Thomas W. Darrah, at his Rancheria by a detachment under command of Major C. M. Truit, 23rd infantry, hiding his ponderous hulk behind a coconut tree when discovered by Captain Darrah, who leaped across a small stream and sprang upon the astounded Moro.[10][19] He was conducted as a prisoner to Cotabato and was transferred to the Zamboanga jail to await his trial for sedition and rebellion. Datu Djimbangan is sentence to five years in prison, his co-defendants to 3 years term, and the purchaser of the slave to a 2 years sentence.[9][16][20]

See also

References
  1. Saleeby,Najeeb(1905). M.Studies in Moro History, Law, and Religion. Bureau of Public Printing, Manila. p.63.
  2. The World Magazine(April to September 1901). Volume 7. George Newnes, LTD.p.441,p.443,p.446.
  3. DeRackin, S. E.(09 August 1907). “Philippine Correspondence” Amador Ledger, California. p.1.
  4. Bascar, Clem M.(23 September 2011). “Scandals in history: Inputs for peace process (Part 10)”, Today Online. Zamboanga.
  5. Bulletin Ng Samahang Pangkasaysayan Ng Pilipinas(1961). Volume 7, Issues 1-4.p.139.
  6. Foreman,John(2007). The Philippine Islands. London. p.581
  7. Larousse, W. (1965).A Local Church Living for Dialogue: Muslim-Christian Relations in Mindanao-Sulu (Philippines). p.94.ISBN 88-7652-879-2
  8. Angeles, F. Delor (1964). Mindanao: The Story of an Island: A Preliminary Study. San Pedro Press. p.63.
  9. Worscester, Dean C. (19 April 2004). The Philippines: Past and Present (vol. 1 of 2). p.336.
  10. Taschetta, Charles (April 4, 1905). "The Captured Moro Datto Sprang Across Stream and Upon Him" The Leavenworth Times, Kansas. p.4.
  11. Annual Report of the Governor of the Moro Province (September 01,1903 to August 31, 1904). Bureau of Insular Affairs, War Department. Government Printing Office, Washington. p.4.
  12. Williams, Mark S. (2011). Business and Peace:The Case of La Frutera Planatation in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, Philippines. Dissertation.com,Florida.ISBN 1-61233-758-9
  13. Arnold, J.R. (2011).The Moro War, New York: Bloomsbury Press. p.92, p.99-100, p.110-112, p128-129 p.132-138, p.247- ISBN 9781608190249
  14. Douglas V. Meed (2003). Soldier of Fortune: Adventuring in Latin America and Mexico with Emil Lewis Holmdahl. Halcyon Press Ltd. pp. 24–. ISBN 978-1-931823-05-0.
  15. Vic Hurley (14 June 2011). Jungle Patrol, the Story of the Philippine Constabulary (1901-1936). Cerberus Books, 14 June 2011. p. 280–. ISBN 978-0-9834756-2-0
  16. Salman, Michael(1960). Embarrassment of Slavery: Controversies over Bondage and Nationalism in the American Colonial Philippines. University of California Press, Ltd. p.115. ISBN 0-520-22077-3
  17. Tan, S.K.(1977).The Filipino Muslim Armed Struggle. Filipinas Foundation.p.24.
  18. Beede, Benjamin R.(1898).The War of 1898 and U.S. Intervention 1898 - 1934. Encyclopedia. p.13.
  19. McCallum,Jack(2005).Leonard Wood: Rough Rider, Surgeon, Architect of American Imperialism. New York University Press. New York and London. p.219.ISBN 978-0-8147-5699-7
  20. Means, Edgar Alexander(31 July 1902). Edgar Alexander Means Papers, 1902-1907. p.13.
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