Was Jacinto Paclibar mayor of Kidapawan?

(ARTICLE TAKEN FROM KIDAPAWAN OF THE PAST)

Here are the facts to one of North Cotabato's pioneer settlers:

Jacinto Aguilar Paclibar was born in 26 March, 1909 in Passi, Iloilo to Venancio Paclibar and Dionesia Aguilar, farmers. After finishing high school in Iloilo, Jacinto found himself employed as a train conductor in the Capiz-Iloilo line. After fourteen years in this job he also worked as a 'kapatas' in the Sugar Central in Iloilo.

After hearing of the abundant land in Mindanao, Paclibar brought his family to Upi (now in Maguindanao province) in 1930. By 1937, the Paclibars had moved to M'lang, then part of the Municipal District of Buluan. M'lang counts him as one of its first settlers.

Jacinto acquired vast tracks of land in M'lang, including portions of today's poblacion and the land on which the Notre Dame of M'lang stands. He became prosperous as a farmer, setting up rice and corn mills.

During the Second World War, Paclibar was appointed Chairman of the Civil Emergency Administration under the 118th Infantry Regiment of Wendell Fertig's 10th Military Division, which at the time was stationed in M'lang. Sources also say he was appointed Comptroller of Supplies by Udtog Matalam, one of the leaders of the regiment. The exact dates of his tenure are not known.

During this time, Alfonso Angeles Sr was also known to have been appointed 'Mayor of the Upper Cotabato Sector,' while sources name Filomeno Blanco as the civilian mayor of Kidapawan appointed by the Japanese.

M'lang, where Paclibar was based and where he held office, would only be part of Kidapawan by 1947, and Executive Order No. 82 of 1947 (which creates the Municipality of Kidapawan) actually says it was still part of Buluan prior to Kidapawan's creation as a municipality.

Paclibar held office in M'lang at a time when M'lang was still not part of Kidapawan. So it may not be being accurate to say that he was mayor of Kidapawan, .

But he was much more than mayor: after the War, Paclibar was appointed Deputy Governor of the unidivided Cotabato Province, a post he held until 1949 (two years shy of M'lang's separation as a Municipality). During this time he still held office in M'lang, perhaps contributing to the impression that he was mayor (he would be the highest official in Kidapawan at the time, as Cotabato City was still the provincial capital and seat of the provincial governor).

Paclibar never pursued a political career after his term as deputy governor ended. He focused on managing his land. In the troubles of the late 60s and early 70s he acquired property in Loreto, Agusan, and he spent his last years alternating between M'lang and Agusan.

Jacinto Paclibar died in M'lang in 1985, survived by ten children and his widow, Rufina Bornasal

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