Tucao Mastura

Early life, education and career

Datu Tucao O. Mastura came from a royal lineage that started its rule in the Sultanate of Maguindanao covering the entire Mindanao Island in Southern Philippines around the 12th century and ended in the 20th century. He was born on September 3, 1946 in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. He is the second son of Datu Usngan Mastura, a prince, the great-grandson of Sultan Kudarat, the great ruler of the Sultanate of Maguindanao. He is a younger brother of Michael Mastura. Mastura had his elementary education in Cotabato City Institute (CCI). He graduated from Notre Dame University with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce in 1967, and became a Certified Public Accountant. He also took Bachelor of Laws from Notre Dame University in 1970. He started his profession as an accountant.

Mayor of Sultan Kudarat

Mastura became mayor of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao in 1977.

His stint as the Chief Executive of the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat brought various honors and recognition for the town. In year 2011, a Seal of Good House Keeping was awarded by President Benigno Aquino III and then DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, the same award was also given by the DILG Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2010.

He had also received various awards of Excellence from President Joseph Estrada and twice with President Fidel V. Ramos, in 1999 and 1996 to 1997 respectively.

He received an award for Peace and Order given by the 6th Infantry Battalion in 1991, the 603rd Infantry Brigade in 1983 and the Southern Mindanao Command in 1977.

He was given an Outstanding Mayor award in 1989 and 1990 by the Department of Interior and Local Government Region XII.

Mastura also made his presence through membership and representations of a range of organizations and delegations, starting with his Rotary Exchange to Houston, Texas in 1983; he was a member of the RP Peace Panel to Middle East on MNLF Problem in 1984 as well as in 1994, RP Peace Goodwill Mission to Red China in 1985.

He was an RP-ARMM representative on MNLF Peace Talk to Senegal in 1991, a member of the Representatives of the Al Khairiah Foundation to UAE in 1991.

He was one of the members of the Philippine Delegation to Toronto, Canada's 31st World Local Administrator Congress, and a member of the EAGA Conference to Indonesia and Malaysia both in 1995.

Creation of Sultan Mastura Municipality

As the end result of the endorsement and planning of Mastura to further boost the development and progress of the Nuling (Sultan Kudarat) area, the Municipality of Sultan Mastura was created by virtue of the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 89 dated September 13, 1999 and ratified through plebiscite on March 15, 2003. Its corporate existence started on April 28, 2003.

Shariff Kabunsuan gubernatorial election

In the 2007 Midterm Elections, Mastura ran for the position of governor in the newly created province of Shariff Kabunsuan, which was extracted from Maguindanao. Bimbo Sinsuat, the candidate of the opposing party was the protégé of Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr.. Mastura was the strongest politician to oppose the power of the Ampatuans. Mastura won the elections. The province was then later abolished due to ARMM's creation of the province.

2010 election

The Masturas were still the strongest rival of the Ampatuans. In the 2010 election, Mastura decided to run as mayor again. In the provincial elections, Esmael Mangudadatu, a vice mayor of the small town of Buluan ran against the Ampatuans, resulting to the gruesome Maguindanao massacre, where 57 people died, including journalists, lawyers and relatives of Mangudadatu while on their way to file his certificate of candidacy. The election-related-violence caught the attention of international media. Mangudadatu asked for the support of Mastura. The Mastura kingmaker, Datu Tucao decided to let Datu Ismael Mastura, his nephew, son of his brother Datu Michael run as the vice governor of Mangudadatu. Tucao declared his support and stayed as the campaign manager. The tandem won the elections.