pictured is Panglima Unga, barung master extraordinaire, patriarch of the Unga clan from Talipao
to reinterate on the ranking system in Sulu: A datu comes from the royal line. His father is either the Sultan or a datu. A panglima is the head of a kauman or district, that is large enough. The title is conferred upon the person by the sultan. The Panglima represents the people in matters to be brought to the sultan, like a mayor. some Panglima are chosen as members of the Ruma Bichara, which is like a Parliiament. The Ruma Bichara (supreme council or "house of talk") formulates laws and decides with the Sultan questions on matters of state, where the Panglima members are like the House of Commons and the Datu members are like the House of Lords. The Ruma Bichara also decides who is and proclaims the Sultan. No Sultan can be proclaimed by any one person unilaterally. It has to be the unanimous choice of the Ruma Bichara. The term "panglima" started when there were only five districts in the sultanate: Maimbung, Patikul, Parang, Luuk, and Latih. Thus, pangLIMA. They were the "hand, eyes and ears" of the Sultan.
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