20/04/2025
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐀𝐥𝐢 "𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧" 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠?
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝘂 𝗔𝗹𝗶 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗴 is a prominent leader from the Philippines, specifically from the Maguindanaon Muslim Moro ethnic group. He holds the traditional title of "𝗗𝗮𝘁𝘂 𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻," which signifies nobility and leadership in Maguindanao del Sur, part of the larger Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He is also the former mayor of Talayan and the son of Datu Anngal Midtimbang.
Datu Ali is recognized for his involvement in local governance and his contributions to development and peace initiatives in the region. As a "Datu," which is the title for a chieftain or ruler, he holds significant influence in his community. The name "Talayan" refers to the town of Talayan in Maguindanao, where he is originally from. This region has a long history of Islamic and Moro resistance to foreign and central government control, and local leaders like Datu Ali Midtimbang play a crucial role in the social and political dynamics of the area.
Like many traditional leaders, Datu Ali is actively engaged in local governance, community affairs, and peace-building efforts, particularly in settling conflicts arising from rido or family feuds. These conflicts stem from both historical and modern struggles involving the Philippine government and various insurgent groups.
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝘂 𝗔𝗹𝗶 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 (𝗨𝗕𝗝𝗣), 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 (𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗙), 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼. The UBJP advocates for the rights, justice, moral governance, and political interests of the Bangsamoro people.
Before becoming the 𝗨𝗕𝗝𝗣 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, he was a member of the Family Alliance, founded by the former Governor of Sultan Kudarat Province, Suharto "Teng" Tan Mangudadatu. However, he chose to align with the principles of truth and justice when called by the M**F leadership, led by Chairman Ahod "Al-Haj Murad" B. Ebrahim, to join the UBJP.
Without hesitation, he contacted Suharto "Datu Teng" Tan Mangudadatu a former Governor of Sultan Kudarat Province and the chieftain of the Family Alliance, after a political gathering at Cotabato State University in Cotabato City to inform him of his decision to stand with his long-time comrades in the Bangsamoro struggle for the betterment of Maguindanao del Sur. Talks between Datu sa Talayan and Datu Teng during that time were not divulged to the public. (𝘉𝘔𝘕 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩, 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮)
