THE Davao City Council approved on third and final reading an ordinance declaring Datu Bago as a local hero, with only Councilor Bonifacio Militar dissenting.
Militar said there is an "insufficient explanation" on why Datu Bago should be declared as a local hero.
Despite his objections, the ordinance was approved.
Section 1 of the ordinance describes Datu Bago as the "Paramount Warrior" of Davao.
The resolution passed prior to the ordinance states that Datu Bago was of Kagan, Tausug and Maguindanawon ancestry. He settled in Bagobo land.
The ordinance states that he fought long and hard to keep Davao Gulf free from foreign control.
The whole area around the Gulf of Davao was under his control. In 1839, Datu Bago, joined by the Bagobo and Kagan tribes, struck his greatest blow against foreign invaders.
The resolution also states that Davao was the last unoccupied territory in the Philippines because Datu Bago heroically defended it against the Spaniards.
It also cited that in the eyes of the invading Spaniards, Datu Bago was a pirate but for the Moros and nationalist Filipinos, he was a hero who valiantly defended Davao against Spanish aggression.
In the year 1969, the late Mayor Elias Lopez, a Bagobo, created the Datu Bago Awards, the highest award to be bestowed on a Dabawenyo who has contributed to the development of the city of Davao with exemplary competence and dedication and who best serves as a model of excellence and an inspiration to Dabawenyos.
Section 3 of the ordinance states that a date shall be set for the annual commemoration of Datu Bago as a local hero and this will be determined by the Office of the City Mayor in coordination with the Davao Historical Society.
Meanwhile, Section 4 of the ordinance states that all public and private schools in Davao City shall integrate in their curriculum the life and time of Datu Bago.
Section 5 states that in order for Dabawenyos, particularly the youth, to regard Datu Bago with respect and to remember and appreciate his heroism, a monument of Datu Bago shall be erected at a site which shall be identified by the Office of the City Mayor in consultation with the Davao Historical society.
