Rajah Buayan adopts Army general as ‘son’

ADOPTED SON ---  Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan (right) of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, hands over a memento to Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon,  chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, last October 10. Carreon will be known as “Datu Didagen,” a Moro term for “impregnable leader,” as he was made an adopted son of Rajah Buayan for his contribution to the town’s peace and development initiatives. (PHOTO COURTESY OF 6TH ID / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

RAJAH BUAYAN, Maguindanao --- An Army general became an adopted son of this Maguindanao town last October 10.

Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and head of the Army-led Joint Task Force Central, is now known as “Datu Didagen” to residents of this municipality situated in the province’s second district.

“Datu Didagen” is a Moro term for “impregnable leader.”

“I am humbled by this recognition, I did not see this coming,” Carreon said after the conferment program led by Rajah Buayan Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan.

During the simple yet meaningful and colorful program, the local government honored Carreon for his valuable contribution to peace and development initiatives in this once conflict-affected town.

Ampatuan, who was vested with the authority by the town’s Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council), said the recognition was bestowed to Carreon for his role as a partner in the development of the Buayan area.

“Yes, he is an ‘adopted son’ of Rajah Buayan and we accord him respect, courtesy, and honor as Datu,” Ampatuan said.

The conferment ceremony was held in time for the celebration of Rajah Buayan’s 15th Founding Anniversary, a town carved from the municipality of Sultan sa Barongis.

The event was witnessed by Carreon’s wife, Gina; Col. Elmer Kato, former 33rd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander; Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling, 33rd IB chief; and Col. Jose H. Narciso, 601st Infantry Brigade commander.

Speaking before the conferment, Ampatuan recalled how Carreon, then a brigadier general, devoted his time to ensure that residents of Rajah Buayan remain safe from lawless elements.

“From the very start, I know Gen. Carreon is a respected leader and one whot cannot be defeated easily, impregnable he is,” he said.

Carreon said he was humbled by the recognition and acknowledged the regal title with deep humility, heartfelt appreciation, and respect.

"I can hardly find words that rightly describe how I feel being given this honor,” he said, even as he rallied the people to continue to shun extremist groups, such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

“If you can tell them to lay down their arms, that would be a welcome move,” Carreon said in the vernacular.

Early on, Ampatuan declared Rajah Buayan as “BIFF-cleared”.

“The people are cooperating with the government, they report to us if they see armed BIFFs in our 11 villages,” he said.

Rajah Buayan was created through Muslim Mindanao Act 166 in 2004. As of the 2015 population count, it had a population of 23,652. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA – COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)