Biosketch of MP Michel E. Midtimbang

From Martial Law Uncertainties to Legislation

 

MP Michael E. Midtimbang was raised in the tutelage of his older brother, a businessman, in early school age in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. Fast-forward, Midtimbang has worked since 2022 as a Member of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in practically all terms of collegial collaborations, providing necessary inputs and participating in the deliberations on enactment of laws, such as those provided in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

 

All his political life, Midtimbang has maintained the balance of representation for the local government agenda through important policy legislation, as well as in political endeavors that constitute essential, and crucial acts of support to the peace process.

 

Working on Peace, Reconciliation, Unity

Briefly said, Datu Mike learned his skills outside the four walls of the classroom-the “University of Experience” if you will.

 

Until the day of revelation, Mike had confided but only to few friends that he had been instrumental in the reconciliation of Sultan Kudarat town Mayor Datu Toco Mastura and the late former Mayor Datu Ombra Q. Sinsuat of Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipality.

 

Election adversities arising from the May 2010 polls had driven the proverbial political wedge between camps of the two great traditional leaders of Maguindanao in 2019. Datu Mike Midtimbang recalls he had negotiated for the reconciliation of the two personalities from 2018 to 2019, and efforts paid off before Mayor Sinsuat Died on November 1, 2019.

 

Working under Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, Midtimbang took active part in the resolution of 42 cases of internal armed conflict arising from instances of rido or clans fueds, from 2019 to 2022.

 

As member of the Maguindanao Province’s Peace Mediation, Empowerment, Reconciliation, and Investigation (of Situations of Conflict), then as private citizen, Datu Michael Enit Midtimbang had played a major role in resolution of two cases of clan conflict in 2019; 10 instances or clan clashes in 2020; 24 cases of family feud in 2021; 6 in 2022 – for a total of 42 rido-based conflict settlements in the then undivided Maguindanao Province.

 

Support to Peace Process

It has been from Datu Mike’s wealth of experience that he has probably learned his skills as a self-taught political analyst, in the realm of peace negotiation and in piecing together fine policy legislations-such as those that he crafted in urgent support of the Peace Process.

 

Mike Midtimbang had been elected as Provincial Board Member and finished all his nine-year term uninterrupted from 2007 to 2016. In fiery speeches at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Maguindanao, he had sponsored or authored the enactment of Ordinances and Resolutions for the general welfare of the Province of Maguindanao-including the following:

 

• Sponsorship of Resolution No. 25 Series of 2010, Titled: A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING FULL TO THE RESUMPTION OF THE PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES (GPH) AND THE MORO ISLLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF), passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the undividedvMaguindanao Province in 2010;

 

• Authorship or Sponsorship of Resolution No. 46 Series of 2014, Entitled: A RESOLUTION URGING THE CONGRESS AND THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES TO EXPEDITE THE PASSAGE OF THE BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW (BOL), CREATING A BANGSAMORO NEW ENTITY;

 

• Authored or Sponsored Resolution No. 92 Series of 2015, Entitled: A RESOLUTION URGING THE CONGRESS AND THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OF COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW (BOL).

 

Humble Beginnings

Datu Mike, as he is affectionately called, was born on April 1, 1962 in Tambunan II, Talayan town in Maguindanao del Sur. He along with his brother soon moved to Datu Piang to veer off early life from an environment of armed conflict that beset his clan since he was a child.

 

Through the hosting of the older brother’s in-laws, his sibling had established a successful family enterprise, and together with his wife, raised children who have all become professionals.

 

The martial law years saw Datu Mike in and out of school not only due to the prevailing situations of armed conflict at the time; but also because Mike was working as his brother’s warehouse scaling in-charge of agricultural products stored-in for a profitable buy-and-sale enterprise-or if only then he could give back to his brother’s modest generosity.

 

Mike spent one school-year to study at the Catholic-run Notre Dame of Dulawan in Datu Piang, Maguindanao until his would-be second year in the school was cut-short by a grenade attack on June 14, 1976. Seven of the 33 students were killed. All but one-a nephew of Mike’s sister in-law, a Chatolic-were Muslims.

 

Unable to return to school one year after NDD closed for an entire school year 1976 to 1977, Mike moved to Cotabato City in 1978 to continue his secondary education at the now defunct Philippine Hardvadian Colleges where he graduated high school in 1982. He continued to take up Bachelor of Arts also at the Philippine Hardvadian Colleges for one year (1982-1983).

 

In 1983, Mike went to Manila and joined his cousin, the late Datu Pike M. Mentang who spent most of his primetime in life staying in the Metropolis, either as a student or as businessman in the sector of brokerage. It was from Mentang where Mike learned the art of “diplomacy” of sort or the practical public relations of business negotiations.

 

At the BTA Parliament, Mike has authored or co-authored Bills and Resolutions mostly pending under deliberations, and is exercising other pertinent legislative functions required under the Organic Law.

 

When his cousin Datu Pike won the seat to represent Second Legislative of Maguindanao to the Regional Legislative Assembly (ARM), Datu Mike worked for the RLA under him briefly as Legislative Staff Officer I (1990-1993).

 

In all, 16 cases of rido had been settled in the areas within what now is Maguindano del Sur and 26 instances in what is now Maguindanao del Norte.

 

Datu Michael Enit Midtimbang is happily married to Bai Sahara Watamama, and together they are blessed with Bai Jeahan Watamama Midtimbang who finished BS Biology; Yasser Watamama Midtimbang, a graduate of BS Criminology; Mohammad Jihad Watamama Midtimbang; who also completed a degree program, as a BS Psychology major, and the twins Sittie Aisha Mae Ann Watamama Midtimbang and Sittie Aisha Rehan Watamama Midtimbang. with reports from Ar Esperat Cayugan