GUIMID ‘DATU JIMMY’ MATALAM, MAGUINDANAOAN LEADER; 86

COTABATO CITY—A Moro leader credited for crafting the law that created the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), died in a hospital in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, early Wednesday, his relatives told the Inquirer.

Former Maguindanao Rep. Datu Guimid “Datu Jimmy” Matalam, who spent more than 40 years in government service, including eight years in the House of Representatives, died 12:19 a.m. Wednesday at St. Louis Hospital in Tacurong. He was 86.

His remains were taken to the family’s ancestral home in Pagalungan, Maguindanao, according to his nephew-in-law, Police Lt. Sandigue Solaiman, chief of police of Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

Matalam represented the second congressional district of Maguindanao from 1987 to 1992, and authored Republic Act No. 6734, the Organic Act that created the ARMM, the forerunner of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, an expanded autonomous territory. He made a comeback as Maguindanao representative and served for a term from 2001 to 2004.

Matalam also served as ARMM regional vice governor and as Speaker of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, the region’s lawmaking body, as assemblyman representing Maguindanao.

Once, he served as the ARMM’s regional secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform. Two of his siblings were also in politics—former Pagalungan Mayor Udtog “Datu Jun” Matalam Jr. and former Maguindanao Gov. Norodin Matalam.

Pagalungan Mayor Salik Mamasabulod remembered Matalam for the pieces of advice he continued to give Muslim leaders despite his retirement from politics.

“Up to his last days, he remained updated about local and national politics. Despite his age, his memory remained sharp,” Mamasabulod said.