Datu Hadji Kamlon, known as Maas Kamlon, was a Tausug who fought during World War II, and afterwards, staged his own uprising against the Philippine government under Presidents Elpidio Quirino and Ramon Magsaysay.
13 Facts About Hadji Kamlon
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Hadji Kamlon is regarded as a folk hero among the Tausug.
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Hadji Kamlon had good relations and have high regard to his fellow unsung Tausug hero at that time, the Sayyid Sharif Captain Kalingalan Caluang.
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In 1948, starting with a core group of 25 members, Hadji Kamlon launched a rebellion to clear the issue of land reform, overthrow the Philippine government, and assert the sovereignty of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo over the Tausug.
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The gravity of Hadji Kamlon's threat shook the newly independent republic as it simultaneously dealt with other internal threats such as the communist movement Hukbalahap.
6.
Hadji Kamlon will be under the custody of the Director of Prisons while awaiting trial.
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Hadji Kamlon's group incurred only 1 death and 5 wounded, according to the news report.
8.
On September 24,1955, when Hadji Kamlon delivered his unconditional surrender after a battle that occurred on Tandu Panuan, Sulu for the 4th time against the 2nd Infantry Division, Sulu Air Task Group, and a gunboat of the Philippine Navy that cost him 190 of his men killed, 48 wounded and 82 captured.
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Hadji Kamlon's initial conviction was upheld and he was sentenced to life imprisonment, a condition Hadji Kamlon himself contested, claiming that his surrender was not entirely unconditional because there was "a promise of a parole".
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However, the Philippine government countered with the justification that Hadji Kamlon was not promised anything beyond his partial pardon.
11.
For those who survived the uprising, and those who would follow the path of Moro rebellion, the aging Hadji Kamlon was viewed as a pioneer in fighting for independence and liberty.
12.
Hadji Kamlon was finally granted a pardon by President Ferdinand Marcos.
13.
Hadji Kamlon was portrayed by Ramon Revilla in the 1981 film Hadji Kamlon.