In precolonial Philippines, the basic political unit was the barangay led by which leader?

• A. Rajah
• B. Datu
• C. Sultan
• D. Barangay Elder

Answer: (B)

In precolonial Philippines, the barangay was the smallest political unit, led by a datu, a local chieftain who held authority over the community’s land, people, and defense. The datu’s legitimacy came from kinship ties, wealth, and support from other local elites, often with a council of elders helping him govern and settle disputes. Larger polities were headed by rulers like a rajah, who governed bigger kingdoms such as the Rajahnate of Cebu or Maynila, or by a sultan in the Islamic sultanates of the south. A barangay elder exists as a respected role within communities, but the chief leadership of the basic unit centers on the datu.