Mombao Romato

Datu Mombao Romato (February 15, 1939 - July 12, 2003) was a Filipino politician who served as the mayor of the municipality of Butig, Lanao del Sur, Philippines from 1978 to 1986. He came from a long lineage of Maranao royal rulers and freedom fighters in Mindanao.
Romato received his early education at Kamilol Islam College in Marawi City and Our Lady of Peace High School in Malabang, Lanao del Sur. He finished his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Manila in 1965 and 1969, respectively.
Romato was appointed as mayor of the then undivided municipality of Butig by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1978 and was elected to the same position many times until the late 1980s. He was a close ally of the prominent Filipino Muslim political leader Mohammad Ali Dimaporo. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to rebuild the war-torn town of Butig, which had served as a center of Bangsamoro resistance in Mindanao since the Spanish colonial times in the Philippines. He implemented a "no-guns/weapons" policy in public places to prevent violent encounters and worked to eliminate crimes and clan wars (rido) in his hometown. Romato is remembered for restoring peace and reviving livelihoods of mostly farmers and traders in Butig. He was cited for uniting all the families of Butig during his time as mayor and was seen as a personification of the modern Maranao datu who served the people with integrity, bringing peace and prosperity to the community. During his term as mayor, he ordered the construction of several farm-to-market roads and bridges to generate local economic productivity. He also established the Butig National High School in 1985 to promote education and learning among the local youth.
Romato died of lung cancer on July 12, 2003, at Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City. He was buried in his hometown of Butig, Lanao del Sur (where the MILF founder Sheikh Salamat Hashim was also buried during the same month).

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