Simeon Datumanong (June 17, 1935 – February 28, 2017) was a Filipino Muslim politician who held different government positions including being a representative of the lone district of Maguindanao in the

House of Representatives of the Philippines The House of Representatives of the Philippines ( fil, Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas, italic=unset, ''Kamara'' or ''Kamara de Representantes'' from the Spanish word ''cámara'', meaning "chamber") is the lower house of Congress, the ...

. He was married to Hadja Sittie Mariam Sigrid de Guzman Datumanong and had four children.

Education

He finished elementary school as the class valedictorian at Cotabato Central School in

Cotabato City Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato ( Maguindanaon: ''Kuta nu Kutawatu'', Jawi: كوتا نو كوتاواتو; Iranun: ''Bandar a Kotawato'', بندر ا كوتاواتو; fil, Lungsod ng Cotabato), is a third class independent c ...

on 1949. He was the first honorable mention when he finished his high school studies at Cotabato High School. Right after finishing high school, he took up

Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Ch ...

at the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 20 ...

. He was admitted to the Bar in 1959.

Political career

Datumanong entered politics when he was elected as Vice-Governor (1963–1967) then as Governor (1967–1971) of Cotabato. When the province of Cotabato was split to the provinces of Maguindanao,

Sultan Kudarat Sultan Kudarat, officially the Province of Sultan Kudarat ( hil, Kapuoran sang Sultan Kudarat; Maguindanaon: ''Dairat nu Sultan Kudarat'', Jawi: دايرت نو سلطان كودرت; ceb, Lalawigan sa Sultan Kudarat; tl, Lalawigan ng Sul ...

, and

North Cotabato Cotabato or North Cotabato ( hil, Aminhan Cotabato; ceb, Amihanang Cotabato; Maguindanaon: ''Pangutaran Kutawatu'', Jawi: ڤڠوترن كوتاواتو; fil, Hilagang Cotabato), officially the Province of Cotabato, is a landlocked province in ...

, he was elected as the first governor of Maguindanao in 1973 and served until 1975. He was then elected to the

Regular Batasang Pambansa The Regular Batasang Pambansa (English: Regular National Assembly), or the First Batasang Pambansa, was the meeting of the Batasang Pambansa from the beginning of its session on July 23, 1984 until it was abolished by President Corazon Aquino on ...

from Maguindanao in 1984. In 1992, Datumanong was elected to the

Philippine House of Representatives The House of Representatives of the Philippines ( fil, Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas, italic=unset, ''Kamara'' or ''Kamara de Representantes'' from the Spanish word ''cámara'', meaning "chamber") is the lower house of Congress, the ...

to represent Maguindanao's Second District. He served until 2001 when he was appointed by President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...

Secretary of Public Works and Highways The secretary of public works and highways ( Filipino: ''Kalihim ng mga Pagawain at Lansangang Bayan'') is the head of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the national government of the Philippines, and is a member of the president� ...

. In 2003, he was Secretary of Justice and served until his resignation in the same year. He was reelected to the

in 2007.

References

Datumanong resume

, - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Datumanong, Simeon 1935 births 2017 deaths Secretaries of Justice of the Philippines Secretaries of Public Works and Highways of the Philippines Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Maguindanao Governors of Cotabato Governors of Maguindanao Lakas–CMD politicians University of the Philippines alumni Filipino former Christians Filipino Muslims Arroyo administration cabinet members Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Members of the Batasang Pambansa