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Abd ul-Bagui Butu Rasul (1865 – February 22, 1937), better known as Hadji Butu, was a Filipino statesman, politician and senator during the 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Philippine Legislatures, representing the 12th senatorial district.
Following Sultan Badar ud-Din's death in 1884, Hadji Butu supported the claims to succession of the Sultan's half-brother, Raja Muda Amir ul-Kiram, and persuaded the majority of Tausug datus to support him against other claimants as the situation escalated into a civil war. During this time, Spanish officials intervened and summoned Amir ul-Kiram and another rival, Datu Harun, to Manila. However, Kiram ignored the invitation, after being warned by Hadji Butu of possible Spanish treachery. In retaliation, Governor-General Joaquin Jovellar recognized Datu Harun as the Sultan, and provided him military support to return and claim the throne. Despite Harun's victory and capture of the royal capital of Maimbung, Hadji Butu helped lead an effective resistance movement until he was captured, whereupon he accepted Sultan Harun's offer to become his prime minister in exchange for an end to the fighting. Hadji Butu eventually helped convince Amir ul-Kiram and his followers to surrender.
Under Hadji Butu's advice, Sultan Harun ran into trouble with his Spanish backers for refusing their demands to levy taxes on his subjects for Spain. In 1892, while Hadji Butu was in Sandakan settling land disputes with the British government in Sabah, Amir ul-Kiram's mother conspired with the Spanish to oust Sultan Harun, exiling him to Palawan. Upon returning to Jolo, Hadji Butu was persuaded by Governor-General Ramon Blanco to serve again as prime minister to Amir ul-Kiram, who had assumed the name Jamal ul-Kiram II upon his enthronement in 1894. In 1896, he accompanied the new Sultan on his hajj to Mecca and returned in 1898, shortly before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
In 1904, Hadji Butu was appointed by the Americans to become assistant to the Military Governor of the province. He was eventually promoted in 1913 by Military Governor General John Pershing to become Deputy District Governor of Sulu.
In his senatorial career, Hadji Butu sponsored the establishment of a Philippine Military Academy, a Philippine Naval Academy, and compulsory military instruction in all educational institutions nationwide. He also called for more appropriations for infrastructure in his district. Despite his record of collaboration with the Americans, he actively worked for Philippine independence, supporting the Jones Law of 1916 which established the Senate and provided for more self-governing powers for the Philippines.
Upon the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth, President Manuel L. Quezon appointed him to the National Language Institute as representative for Mindanao, Sulu and the Tausug people, in 1936.
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