Moro Province Former province of the Philippines ←   ←   ←   ← 1903-1914 → Flag Location of the historical Moro Province. Capital Zamboanga City Historical era American Occupation  - Established June 1, 1903  - Disestablished July 23, 1914 Today part of Cotabato, Sulu, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City, South Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Maguindanao, Saranggani, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Davao.

Moro Province is the name of the province of the Philippines consisting of the current provinces/regions of Zamboanga, Lanao, Cotabato, Davao, and Sulu.^[1] It was later split into the current provinces/regions organized under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, along with Agusan, Bukidnon and Surigao but excluding Lanao.^[2]

Government[link]

The province is governed under a civil government that has an executive and legislative branch.

Executive[link]

The governor serves also as the commander of the Army Department of Mindanao-Jolo. Most of the district governors and their deputies are members of the American military. In 1913, the military governor was replaced by a civil governor.

Legislative[link]

The Moro Council serves as the legislative body of the province. This Council "consisted of the governor, a state attorney, a secretary, a treasurer, a superintendent of schools, and an engineer." Although the governor appointed all of the other members of the council, this body was permanent, and provided a more solid foundation for laws than the fiats of the governor, which might be overturned by his successor.

Districts[link]

The province was divided into five districts, with American officers serving as district governors and deputy governors. These districts included: Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu, and Zamboanga. The districts were sub-divided into tribal wards, with major datus serving as ward chiefs and minor datus serving as deputies, judges, and sheriffs.

History[link]

After the dissolution of the Republic of Zamboanga and others part of Mindanao are under American rule, the American civil government led by Governor William Howard Taft authorized the creation of the Moro Province that includes "all of the territory of the Philippines lying south of the eight parallel of latitude, excepting the island of Palawan and the eastern portion of the northwest peninsula of Mindanao." The Province was created by the virtue of Act No. 787 in June 1, 1903. Major General Leonard Wood, with the capacity of commander of the Army Department of Mindanao-Sulu was appointed governor of the province in August 6, 1903.

Governors[link]

PICTURE GOVERNOR TERM Major General Leonard Wood August 6, 1903–February 1, 1906 Major General Tasker Howard Bliss February 1, 1906–April 6, 1909 Colonel Ralph Hoyt April 1909-September 1909 Captain Charles Hagedon September 1909-November 11, 1909 Major General John J. Pershing November 11, 1909–December 1913 Frank Carpenter December 1913–July 23, 1914

Military to Civilian Government[link]

By 1913, Governor Pershing agreed that the Moro Province needed to transition to civil government. This was prompted by the Moro's personalistic approach to government, which was based on personal ties rather than a respect for an abstract office. To the Moros, a change of administration meant not just a change in leadership but a change in regime, and was a traumatic experience. Rotation within the military meant that each military governor could serve only for a limited time. Until 1911, every district governor and secretary had been a military officer. By November 1913, only one officer still held a civil office – Pershing himself. In December 1913, Pershing was replaced as governor of Moro Province by a civilian, Frank Carpenter.

Dissolution[link]

On July 23, 1914, the Moro Province was officially replaced by an agency named the Department of Mindanao and Sulu including the whole island of Mindanao except Lanao. The agency was tasked to administer all Muslim-dominated areas in the territory. Frank Carpenter remained as governor of the agency.

See also[link]

• Moro Rebellion
• Zamboanga City
• Cotabato City
• Davao
• Department of Mindanao and Sulu
• General Leonard Wood

References[link]

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