The Genesis of the Mindanao Conflict- An Article

I- Introduction

For more than centuries, the Moro Problem( or the most appropriate term The Philippine Government Mindanao Problem)still unsolved by any approaches instituted by both the warring factions. But still the Moros and GRP are hopeful that one day the solution will be met, and everlasting peace may reign in this small island of Mindanao.

In this little information, I gave the readers some insights as to the chronology of events of the Mindanao Conflict in brief. In the end we may comprehend the very root cause of the conflict.

The conflict in Mindanao is second longest running conflict in the world (1578), since the Spaniards invasion.The longest is between North and South Sudan, dated back to 10^th Century, or much earlier if we include the continual strife between Egyptian and Nubians at the Pharaohs time.

II-Operation Merdeka

From August to December in l967, some 200 Tausug and Sama Muslims aged 18 to 30 from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi were trained in a secret camp in the island town of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi. The training was part of a clandestine plot to destabilize Sabah, which was annexed by Malaysia when it gained independence from Great Britain in l963.The plan, hatched by Ferdinand Marcos, was codenamed Operation Merdeka. The commando unit, named Jabidah, which would have infiltrated Sabah to start a rebellion was led by a military adventurer, Col. Abdul Latif Martelino. On December 30 of that year, the Muslims were herded into a Philippine Navy vessel and brought to Corregidor for “specialized training.” There the Muslim recruits discovered that their ultimate mission was to go to Sabah and fight their Muslim brothers. The recruits demanded that they be returned home. (Up to now, the Malaysian government is paying the rental to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu of 5,300 ringgits or $1,590, almost unchanged since l878.)

The infamous Jabidah massacre followed. As the sole survivor, Jibin Arula, later recounted, the trainees were taken from their Corregidor barracks on the night of March 18, 1968, brought to an airstrip and gunned down one by one. Under cover of darkness, Arula ran and swam all the way to Cavite.

The testimony of Arula and the expose later of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino in the halls of Congress, which unmasked Operation Merdeka, shocked the Filipino nation and the world. The rest is history.

III-The Fighting Forces in Mindanao

1. Foreign Invaders vs Bangsamoro

2. The Government Forces vs MILF(sovereignty),MNLF(sovereignty) CPP/NPA (Ideology),Criminals(Criminality),Abu Sayaf(terrorism)

3. Family or Clan Feud due to Land disputes or Politics (Present)

IV – The Flashback

The Muslim-Spaniards Intramural

Ø April 27,1521 Battle of Mactan,Rajah Lapu Lapu slew Magellan..

Ø Christianized thereafter. (Intramoros name derived)

Ø In Maguindanao, the first confrontation between Moro and Spaniards was when Capt.Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa ordered by Gov Gen. Sande to siege Maguindanao and landed at Tampakan(Tamontaka) on April 1596. To met him in a fierce battle were the brothers Rajah Silongan and Datu Ubal.Figueroas head was cleft by Kampilan or Kris of Datu Ubal.

Ø In 1619, Sultan Kudarat ascended the throne of Maguindanao Sultanate, he was the famous, and uparalleled moro warrior in history, unconquered and died of old age at 90 in 1671.His sphere of influence reached as far as Mindoro, Zamboanga and some part of Borneo and Visayas. He was honored to call him the “Greatest Muslim Moro Warrior in History of all time”.

Ø Sultan Bungsu of Sulu , in 1627 lead a fleet of boats with 2,000 moro warriors attacked the Spanish Shipyard in Camarines shores.

Ø -Datu Utto( Sultan Anwaruddin or Datu Sa Zapakan) 1875, son of Sultan Marajanuddin (Sultan Bayao Brother) married to Rajah Putri, daughter of Jamalul Azam or Sultan Untong. The spaniards saw on Datu Utto the coming of second Sultan Qudarat. Datu Utto took over as Sultan of Buayan and latter Maguindanao. He was able to unite minor sultans along the Pulangi Rivers(Rio Grande). He was unconquered by the Spaniards.

Ø -Amai Pakpak, 1889-1895, of Lanao Sur, the Datu of Lake Moros.

V- Moro and Non-Moro Population

Year MinSuPala Moro % Non-Moro %

1903 327,741- 250,000 76 77,741 24

1913 518,698- 324,816 63 193,882 37

1918 723,655- 358,968 50 364,687 50

1939 2,224,421-755,189 34 1,489,232 66

1960 5,686,027-1,321,060 23 4,364,967 77

1970 7,963,932-1,669,708 21 6,294,224 79

1990 14,269,736-2,690,456 19-11,579,280 81

VI- American-Moro War

The Unconquered Moros:

In Lanao Province

- Sultan of Bayang, Sultan of Pandapatan and Ampuan Agaus.( Agus Dam name derived)

In Cotabato Province

-Datu Ali Bayao, 1^st Cousin of Datu Utto, son of Sultan Bayao. He was entrhroned as the Rajah Muda of Salunayan and married to Bai Mingka ,the daughter of Datu Piang or Tuya Tan or simply Amai Mingka.

- Jambangan Bayao- Brother of Datu Ali.

In Sulu Province

- Panglima Hassan, Datu Pala, Jikiri(The Robinhood of Sulu Sea) and Datu Sabtal

VII-The American-Japanese-Moro

Intramural

Moros as Japanese Collaborators:

- Alauya Alonto of Lanao

- Sinsuat Balabaran ,Minandang Piang Datu Odin Sinsuat and Datu Duma Sinsuat of Maguindanao.

- Datu Ombra Amilbangsa,Gulamu Rasul, Salih Ututalum of Sulu

Moros as American Collaborators/Guerillas were:

- Lt. Salipada K. Pendatun of Maguindanao

- Datu Udtog Matalam of Maguindanao

- Gumbay Piang of Maguindanao

- Manalao Mindalano of Lanao

The Japanese Imperial Army attacked several guerilla positions.At one time Japanese Collaborator Sebastian Javelosa attacked Buluan and captured Datu Buto Mangudadatu and Datu Daunotan that lead to fierce battle and ambushed at Talakudong(Tacurong).More Japanese killed in action.

VIII-Nature of the Conflict

v Sovereignty-based

v Bangsamoro claim for separate independent state of their own.

v Assertion of their right to determine their political status since their incorporation to the Philippine state was without their plebiscitary consent.

v The Drivers

•Their historical awareness that before the formation of the Philippine state, the Bangsamoro people had their independent government(Sultanate)

•Their unpleasant experiences under the Philippine unitary state

IX-Experiences under the Philippines

Minoritization Strategy

(Legalized Landgrabbing)

In 1912, the 1st wave of Christian Settlers from Visayas landed on the shore of Mindanao.

In 1918, the Muslims were dominant in Mindanao but government settlement and development programs reduced them, together with the Indigenous peoples, became minority in their own homeland.

Creation of Colonies during the time of Gen. John C.Pershing,Governor of Moro Province- 1912. the 3^rd Governor others Gen.Wood,Bliss and 1^st Civilian Gov. Frank Carpenter.

Due to over population in the North and for mass rice production.

= 1^st Batch of 100 families settlers from Visayas , relocated in Cotabato Province.

= 9 Colonies , 7 in Cotabato, 1 in Lanao and 1 in Basilan the 7 Colonies in Cotabato were;Silik,Peidu Pulangi,Ginatilan,Pagalungan,Pikit, Talitay and Glan.

Failure of the Government

–to protect the interest of the Bangsamoro people over their lands.

–Worst still, government development programs are among the reasons why they lost their lands to settlers from the north.

Failure of Government to protect their persons and properties

–Massacres of Muslims remain unsolved until now (e.g., massacres in Manili 70, Tacub 40, Alamada 73, Buldon 60,Kisulon 67,Magsaysay 66, Midsayap 18, the Mileb Massacre 23 datus and many more).

(see next post)