Butig, Lanao del Sur – July 26, 2025 — Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia was officially enthroned as Datu Romapunut, or “Leader of Peace,” in a traditional ceremony held Friday at the Dianaton Naim Gymnasium in the municipality of Butig, Lanao del Sur.
The event was attended by local officials, traditional leaders, esteemed Bai and Datu, and other representatives from across the region. Organizers said the title was bestowed on Garcia in recognition of his leadership and contributions to peace, stability, and democratic governance in Mindanao, especially in areas within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“The conferment of the title symbolizes our appreciation for Chairman Garcia’s support in promoting peace and unity in our communities,” a local leader said during the ceremony.
Concerns from Meranaw Cultural Voices
Despite the festive atmosphere, the enthronement has stirred criticism and concern from several members of the Meranaw community, who questioned the process and legitimacy of conferring a sacred traditional title to someone outside of their cultural and religious identity.
“How did our leaders consider our customary laws in recognizing or granting the title of Datu to someone who is not a Meranaw?” asked one netizen. “The title is not something to be taken lightly. It carries the weight of leadership, honor, and responsibility passed down through generations according to our customs and bloodlines.”
Others expressed that in Meranaw tradition, the titles Datu and Romapunut are governed by the Taritib and Igma—the foundational codes of royal succession and cultural legitimacy that rely heavily on ancestry and lineage.
“In our culture, you must trace your genealogy to the royal bloodlines to be enthroned. That is what gives the title its nobility and sacredness,” said another concerned Meranaw. “Bestowing it without observing this process is equivalent to making a mockery of our heritage.”
A third commenter asked, “Where is the maratabat of the Meranaw? When titles are given outside our customs, what message are we sending to our youth? What happens to our dignity if even our most sacred traditions are treated like symbols for display?”
A Question of Recognition and Respect
As of press time, no formal statement has been issued by the traditional royal houses, the Sultanate of Lanao, or the BARMM government regarding the enthronement’s cultural validity.
While some view the title as a symbolic gesture of unity and inclusivity, critics fear that such practices—if done without proper consultation with traditional elders and royal authorities—may erode the sanctity of indigenous titles and undermine long-standing customs that define the identity of the Meranaw people.
The controversy now raises larger questions about how cultural heritage is respected in modern political and social engagements, and whether symbolic recognitions, no matter how well-intentioned, should be weighed against the responsibility of upholding deeply rooted traditions.