Salipada Pendatun

Brigadier General Datu Salipada Khalid Pendatun
Salipada K. Pendatun in 1927
Mababatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Cotabato's at-large district
In office 1978–1985
Speaker Pro-Tempore of the Batasang Pambansa
In office 1984–1985
Preceded by	Blah Sinduat
Succeeded by	Macacuna Dimaporo
Senator of the Philippines
In office 28 May 1946 – 30 December 1951
In office 30 December 1969 – 23 September 1972
Member of the House of Representatives from Cotabato's at-large district
In office 1957–1967
Speaker Pro-Tempore of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
In office 1962–1967
Preceded by	Constancio Castañeda
Succeeded by	Jose Aldeguer
Governor of Cotabato
In office 1945–1945
President	Sergio Osmeña
Personal details
Born	December 3, 1912 Pikit, Cotabato Province, Philippine Islands
Died	January 26, 1985 (aged 72) Philippine Heart Center, East Ave., Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse(s)	Aida S. Farrales
Children	Bai Moniera, Bai Zamrod, Bai Mariam, and Datu Salipada Khalid, Jr.
Residence	Cotabato Province
Alma mater	University of the Philippines College of Law
Occupation	Lawyer
Profession	Politician
Religion	Islam
Military career
Nickname(s)	Sali
Allegiance	Commonwealth of the Philippines
Service/branch	Philippine Army, Philippine Constabulary
Years of service	1942–1945
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	Armed Forces of the Philippines
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Maguindanao

Datu Salipada Khalid Pendatun was a Philippine lawyer, military officer, and a statesman, being the first Filipino Muslim in history to hold these offices. He died on May 16, 1985 in Cotabato Province.

Contributions

He fought against the Japanese. Pendatun was from Cotabato-Maguindanao. The group he formed was called the Bolo Battalion, which evolved into the larger group, Muslim-Christian Guerrilla Movement and later, the Cotabato-Bukidnon Force.^[1]

During his time as a politician, especially when he was the governor of the then undivided Cotabato province, Cotabato province was by then the most prosperous province in the country, serving it as its "rice basket", with its capital bearing the same name was second only to Davao City as the most populous and economically prosperous city in Mindanao. Several towns were born in the province, and a number of them, i.e. Kidapawan, Buayan (now General Santos City), Marbel, Tacurong, and some others flourished and became economically prosperous that they become cities several years later. The province was also exceptionally peaceful before the Muslim insurgencies in Mindanao in the 1970s.

Legacy

The town of General Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao was named after him.

References

1. Moslem-Christian Guerrillas of Mindanao By Uldarico Baclagon with foreword by then Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos

• Keats, J., 1963, The Fought Alone, Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, pp.124-5