ILOILO CITY—There is now a Sultanate of Panay.
The newest of 21 sultanates in the country was formed through a royal decree issued on Saturday in a ceremony in Roxas City, Capiz.
Hadji Abdullah Topaan Disomimba, sultan of Masiu and chair of the 16 Royal Houses of Lanao del Sur, declared the organization of the Sultanate of Panay under the code of rules and protocol of the sultanate system.
The ceremony was led by Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, Rep. Antonio del Rosario and other provincial officials.
Disomimba also issued a certificate, recognizing the Sultanate of Panay and appointing 20 administrative officers of the sultanate.
The decree and proclamation formally established the sultanate which covers around 10,000 Muslims on Panay Island, said Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., Western Visayas police director, who was crowned Sultan of Panay on Feb. 13, 2011.
The Panay sultanate is the 21st sultanate in the country, including 16 in Lanao del Sur, three in Maguindanao and one in Sulu.
The decree also declares the formal alliance between the 16 royal sultanates of Lanao and that of Panay.
Querol was crowned the first sultan of Panay by 10 largely independent and autonomous Muslim groups in the region. This was confirmed by Disomimba who led the coronation ceremonies.
Disomimba said the formal organization of the sultanate would foster and strengthen relations among Muslims on the island, especially in cultural and social affairs.
Querol said the sultanate would also help strengthen relations between the Muslim communities and local government units in Panay as well as develop understanding and economic cooperation.