Cotabato City different from Cotabato
Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato (Maguindanaon: Kuta nu Kutawatu, Jawi: 
كوتا نو كوتاواتو; Iranun: Bandar a Kotawato, بندر ا كوتاواتو; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cotabato), is a third class independent component city in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 325,079 people, making it as the most populated city under the independent component city status.
Cotabato City was formerly a part and the regional center of Region XII, but due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, it is now part of Bangsamoro and serves as the regional center. Being an independent component city, it is not a subject to regulation from the Provincial Government of Maguindanao del Norte where it is geographically located. The Philippine Statistics Authority also lists Cotabato City as statistically independent. It was the capital of Sultanate of Maguindanao which fought against Spain, the United States and Japan.
Cotabato City is distinct from and should not be confused with the province of Cotabato.