History
Lebak is a Maguindanaon word meaning hollow. This is because of the eastern part of Lebak is a mountain and on the western part is the Celebes Sea thus the hollow portion is between a mountain and the sea.
Pre Spanish Era
Early sellers are the Manobo at Salangsang. Anthropomorphic urn burials of limestone and some pottery were found in Seminoho Cave dates back to AD 585. Manobos way of life was intact until the Tiruray setllers arrive in 1950's. The arrival of Maguindanao which establish the Islam faith and settled in near the rivers and shores in 15 century (1401 to 15000).
American Occupation Periods
By the end of the Spanish regime in 1898, includes politico-military comendancia of Lebak in "Fifth District of Mindanao". The town already producing rice during the period of 1905 and vinta was already in service from Cotabato to Lebac. In 1913 Under the United States ended the military rule in Mindanao and establish the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. Act No. 2711 of the Philippine Commission dated March 10, 1917, Lebak and Salaman was incorporated into Province of Cotabato. The growing agrarian problem in Luzon and Visayas offers United States government offers the solution of homestead and resettlement in Mindanao particularly in Lebak. Act 2408 enacted on July 23, 1914, Lebak was part of Empire Province of Cotabato. Between the time between 1914 and 1937 a steady flow of Christian settlers from Luzon (Ilocanos) and Visayas (Ilongos).
World War II and Japanese Occupation
In 1945, World War 2 when the combined American and Filipino forces took over the supervision of the Philippine Government against Japanese Occupation, Marcelino A. Concha was still the Military Governor of the Empire Province of Cotabato. In the same year, Aurelio Freires, Sr. was appointed Municipal District Mayor of Salaman.
Post Colonial (The 3rd Republic) and Creation of Lebak
On August 18, 1947. President Manuel Roxas sign an executive order 82 organizing municipalities and municipal district of Cotabato Province.
[ The municipal district of Lebak was formally created under the municipal district of Kiamba under section 4, however, on same executive order on section 10 the municipal district of Salaman was under the Municipality of Dinaig. Together with the Kalamansig, Salaman was formerly a part of the municipality of once called Lebak and the seat of government is in now called Kalamansig Municipal Hall.
An executive order number 195, the Municipality of Lebak as separated from the municipality of district of Kiamba and Dinaig and upholding the seat of government at Sito Kalamansig was signed by President Elpidio Quirino on December 31, 1948. and on April 12, 1951 and an executive order 432 issued to transfer the seat of government from Kalamansig to Barrio of Salaman.
April 12, 1951 municipality of Kalamansig is formally created consisting of 20 barrios and sitios from Lebak.
Moro Conflict
Main article: Moro Conflict
The Land Reform Code of Diosdado Macapagal brings more Christian Migrants from Luzon and Visayas.
Under the command of Rajah Buayan, Commander Ali “Cassius Clay” Sansaluna of Cotabato Moro National Liberation Front Command landed at barangay Tran in December 1972 with an estimated 5,000 - 6,000 armed with European made weapon ship from neighboring Muslims countries. Tran was the main logistical base of the MNLF's Cotabato Command. Early February 26, 1973 the hostilities began when a group of fishermen at Tran River was shot and killed. The following day, February 27, 1973, the 54 Philippine Constabulary verify the event and the skirmishes begin. Signalled the MNLF offensive all over Cotabato raided including Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDFs), 27th Infantry Battalion, PC Provincial Commands and villages as far as barangay Basak.
22nd Infantry Battalion (Separate) was deployed at Lebak on April 1973.
Datu Guiwan Mastura withdraws from Lebak and Kalamansig and seeks sanctuary at Palimbang on March 21, 1973. Tran was guarded with 600 rebels under the command of Datu Sangki Karon.
Offensive military operation started June 6, 1973 under the command of Unified Central Mindanao Command (CEMCOM) Task Force COSMOS under General Fortunato U. Abat who was the commanding general of 3rd Inf Bde (Sep) PA. Units include 21st, the 22nd and the 4th Infantry Battalions PA, the 1st Composite Infantry Battalion, GHQ, the 554th and 531st Philippine Constabulary Companies and four ships of the Naval task Group 71.1, and Composite Air Support Force Cotabato
July 21, 1973 government troops controlled the Barangay Tran and kept pushing towards Sitio Turugan. A thousand rebels together with their families surrendered to government troops on August 3, 1973. On August 4, 1972, the 22nd Infantry Battalion finally cleared the Sitio Turugan, the Moro Ntional Liberation Front stronghold. The Tran Offensive officially ended on August 6, 1973, ending the two-month conflict.
Leader of Tran insurgents Datu Guiwan Mastura together with 12 men surrendered to Ferdinand Marcos on June 1973. First Presidential Streamer Award was awarded to 22nd Infantry Battalion on 1973. On the side of MNLF, 422 killed, 39 captured and 1,036 surrendered. The government troops counts 48 killed in action, 148 wounded and 1 missing including Lieutenant Gringo Honasan was one of the wounded of this battle and was later awarded with 3 Gold Cross Medal.
Post War and Tsunami Disaster
The municipality of Lebak was transferred from Cotabato Province to Province of Sultan Kudarat on November 22, l973 by presidential decree 341 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos
The 8.0 (Mw) earthquake on 16 August 1976 at 08:16 UTC (12:11 AM local time)occurred in 6°15′33.09″N 124°1′16.78″E inland of Moro Gulf at a depth of 33 kilometres (21 mi), about 40.7 kilometres (25.3 mi) south of the populated barangay of Tibpuan. Followed by 15 aftershocks. The quake triggered a 9 meters Tsunami that killed 8,000 people.
Fifth Republic
The municipality was formerly composed of 23 barangays and created 4 new barangays, Bolebak, Barurao II, Poblacion II and Poblacion III making it to 27 barangays.
The renaming of Poblacion 2 to barangay Aurelio F. Frieres Sr was approved by the Sanguniang Bayan in its resolution number 007 series of 2002. A plebiscite was enacted last March 31, 2005.
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