Datu Djimbangan

Datu Djimbangan (Guimbangan or Jimbangan) - 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.

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.

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. 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.

Datu Djimbangan, a qualified leader of Sultanate of Bwayan 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.