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- Datu Ali, was a prominent Moro Chieftain of great distinction and the Rajahmuda of Tinukop before succeeding his cousin, Datu Uto, as Sultan of Bwayan from 1899 until 1905. He was the brother of Datu Djimbangan and Sultan Tambilawan of Kudarangan, and as a rising leader, Datu Ali overpowered his brothers to rule over Kudarangan. In 1886, Datu Ali and his cousin Datu Uto refused to honor the Spanish Flag and swore to leave no Spaniards alive in Cotabato. Some of Uto's cottas were destroyed by the Spaniards but Spanish troops failed to penetrate the Moro territory. Datu Ali attacked the town of Lepanto near the Spanish fort of Bugcaon, killing fourteen and looting the place, as the campaign ended. The fall of Datu Uto to Spanish advances in 1890 led to his exile. This created a vacuum in the Bwayan Sultanate that was filled by Datu Ali, Datu Djimbangan and Datu Piang who was a Chinese-Maguindanaw Mestizo, co-opted into the American establishment, while resistance to American Rule continued in Sar-Raya led by Datu Ali. Regardless of the fact that Datu Piang had served under Datu Uto as his "Minister of Lands", "the apparent treachery" of Datu Piang against Datu Uto, "by declaring himself the Sultan of Mindanao, in spite of the fact that he had the least precedent by way of kinship and genealogy" ... led Datu Uto to "turnover command of his warriors" to his cousin Datu Ali. Buluan, known to have wide expense of fertile plains, and an invigorating climate, gave good tidings to the ear of Datu Ali of the North, who at once proceeded to take control of the whole territory. On the other Hand, the people of the South, had viewed this luxuriant valley from the top of the mountain ranges at Tupi and Koronadal, under the leadership of Sultan of Talic, who made up his mind to explore and take possession of this uninhabited place. When Datu Ali learned that the Sultan of Talic and his followers encamped in Talic, Datu Ali assembled his men and gave Sultan of Talic battle and easily put him to flight. By his victory, Datu Ali became the most powerful leader in the region between Koronadal in the South and Maganoy in the North and could capable of bringing all Magindanaw Moros under his sovereignty to the extent that he expanded his domain in Cotabato and extending from the neighborhood of Malabang to Sarangani Point. Because of his undisputed bravery in battle and nobility among Datus, Datu Ali was then the able ruler of Cotabato Upper Valley and was the Mighty Leader of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the 1900s. Acquiring all of the prerogatives of a legitimate leader, he claimed the title "Rajah of Bwayan" (King of Bwayan), or "Rajah Bwayan" translated as "The Kingdom of Bwayan". Datu Ali came to be known primarily during the American occupation of the Philippines. Datu Ali, who was again hostile, had been the terror of the neighborhood in his younger days and also just after the evacuation by the Spaniards. Ali declared that he would not yield to the Americans one iota of his independence, or liberate his slaves, and swore vengeance on all who went in his pursuit. Being the hereditary Datu, the inhabitants of the valley generally sympathized with him. He headed the revolt with some 3,000 followers against the American government through open battle and guerrilla warfare for 3 years, beginning in 1903. To force him to surrender, the Americans captured his brother, Datu Djimbangan, at Fort Sar-Raya, but he did not fall for that trick. He continued to fight until his death on October 22, 1905 when he and most of his men were killed in the Battle of the Malalag River. Datu Ali was the last, and most formidable Moro chieftain to oppose American rule on the island of Mindanao. For nearly two years, operations against Ali were carried out by several formations of the US Army and the Philippine Constabulary. Ali eluded capture all that time, until finally surprised and killed by a Provisional Company of the 22nd Infantry, led by Captain Frank R. McCoy, the Aide De Camp of General Leonard Wood. Colonel John R. White, who spent 15 years as an officer in the Philippine Constabulary, sets the stage with a description of Ali's home land—the Cotabato District of Mindanao. (en)
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- Datu Ali, was a prominent Moro Chieftain of great distinction and the Rajahmuda of Tinukop before succeeding his cousin, Datu Uto, as Sultan of Bwayan from 1899 until 1905. He was the brother of Datu Djimbangan and Sultan Tambilawan of Kudarangan, and as a rising leader, Datu Ali overpowered his brothers to rule over Kudarangan. Datu Ali was the last, and most formidable Moro chieftain to oppose American rule on the island of Mindanao. For nearly two years, operations against Ali were carried out by several formations of the US Army and the Philippine Constabulary. (en)
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