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| Historical Background |
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The earliest known historical account of the municipality disclose that the Tagihamas, said to be the Land Dyaks of Sarawak were the early known migrants of Basilan who later develop into the group known as Yakan. The area which was later known as Lamitan was the home base of Yakan. In June 1886, a certain Pedro Javier Cuevas, better known in Basilan History as Datu Kalun, wrestled leadership from the native chieftains and established a settlement known as Lamitan. The area developed into a town which political boundaries reached the Guiong River in the southeast and the Balagtasan River in the northwest. The passing of time saw the influx of Christian settlers who led the way, with their Muslim townmates, in the agricultural development of the area. The town recognized during the Spanish, American and Japanese occupation as one of the municipal district of Basilan, then a part of Zamboanga Province.
Lamitan became a part of Zamboanga City in 1937. On July 1, 1948, Basilan became a chartered city by virtue of R.A. 288 sponsored by the Congressman Juan S. Alano. On December 27,1973, his Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued P.D. No. 356 creating Basilan Province out of Basilan City with three municipalities: Lamitan, Isabela and Maluso.
The area decree reduced the are of Basilan City to less than one square kilometer P.D. 356 was amended by P.D. No. 593 on December 2, 1974 increasing the area of Basilan City to about three square kilometers and further sub-dividing the province into ten municipalities; Lamitan, Isabela, Maluso, Sumisip, Lantawan, Tuburan, Tipo-Tipo, Tapiantana, Malamawi and Pilas.
The commander of the 2/1 Brigade, Col. Tomas G. Naquil, then stationed at Basilan was appointed the first Military Governor, after about two years, Rear Admiral Romulo Espaldon, the commander of the South West Command (SOWESCOM) took over as Military Governor but administered the affairs of government through a military caretaker, Col. Florencio E. Magsino who was succeeded by Col. Alfeo Rillera, all Brigade Commanders. This was the set up until His Excellency, President Marcos appointed Asan Camlian, who was then a vice governor as Governor of Basilan Province. On December 11, 1975, Basilan City was abolished by virtue of P.D. 840. however, the decree reduced the number of municipalities comprising of Basilan Province from ten to seven, that is, eliminating Tapiantana, Pilas and Malamawi.
A member of Provincial Board, Pedro C. Pamaran was appointed in 1975 as Municipal Mayor in Lamitan. He was succeeded in 1980 by Hon. Wilfrido C. Furigay, the first elected mayor of the municipality.
In 1986 during EDSA Revolution, Hon. Ramon F. Garcia Jr. was appointed as Mayor during the interim government. By 1988, Hon. Wilfredo C. Furigay took the position as mayor by way of election then was succeeded by Hon. Inocente J. Ramos in 1995 for three (3) consecutive terms.
In 2004, Hon. Roderick H. Furigay, a young visionary and vibrant entrepreneur and the nephew of former Mayor Hon. Wilfredo C. Furigay, took the position as the Local Chief Executive by overwhelming votes and continued his reign up to his second term, thus giving him the opportunity to revive the dream of the Lamiteños to convert the municipality into a Component City.
Dream comes true for "Lamitan Kong Mahal" when Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Hon. Gerry A. Salapuddin authored and sponsored a bill for the conversion of the municipality. Thus, by virtue of the Republic Act 9393 enacted by Congress and ratified by both chambers on June 18, 2007, Lamitan was officially recognized as a Component City, the second in the province.
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