Maguindanao sultan passes away at 93

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A Maguindanao sultan from a prominent clan in Mindanao — Mohammad Guiwan Mastura Kudarat IV — passed away late Tuesday afternoon, one of his sons confirmed Thursday.

Datumama Mastura said his father was 93 years old and his remains were immediately laid to rest in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

Sultan Guiwan was the only surviving son of 19th century Maguindanao Sultan Hijaban Mastura Kudarat III, a descendant of the famous Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat.

He was proclaimed sultan of Maguindanao on May 1, 1993 and became keeper of the Maguindanao royal traditions since then.

Sultan Guiwan was to be succeeded by another son, Salem Mastura.

“Apo Guiwan” as he was fondly called, was a decorated war hero having served under the hailed Bolo Battalion of the Mindanao-Resistance Movement under the late Sen. Salipada Pendatun and Cotabato Gov. Datu Udtog Matalam Sr., which found the Japanese imperial forces during World War II.

Following the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, he, Pendatun and Matalam – along with Datu Manteel Dilangalen – secretly organized a guerrilla resistance movement against the Japanese, which continued to defy a surrender order by Maj. Gen Jonathan Wainwright.