5 Mindanao-Sulu Crisis Flashcards
Who is the author of “Mindanao-Sulu” crisis?
Peter Gordon Gowing
What three major events in the late 1960s and early 1970s led to the Mindanao-Sulu crisis? (3)
1) The Corregidor Incident (“Jabidah Massacre”)
2) The rise of the Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM)
3) Escalating violence in Mindanao (1970-1971)
What was the Jabidah Massacre, and when did it occur? (2)
- Event: Execution of at least 28 Muslim recruits by the Philippine Army on Corregidor Island
- Date: March 1968
What was the purpose of “Operation Merdeka”?
Philippine military operations in Sabah
In Operation Merdeka, why did the Jabidah recruits mutiny?
Recruits refused to fight fellow Muslims in Malaysia, believing they were training to combat communists.
Who was the Chief Minister of Sabah during the Jabidah Massacre controversy?
Datu Tun Mustapha Haron
Christian armed groups targeting Moros, led by Feliciano Luces (“Toothpick”)
Ilaga Movement
Who led the Ilaga and was known as “Commander Toothpick”?
Feliciano Luces
What group was formed on May 1, 1968, advocating for an Islamic Republic of Mindanao and Sulu?
Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM)
Who was the Moro leader that spearheaded the creation of the MIM?
Datu Udtog Matalam
Who were two prominent leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)? (2)
- Nur Misuari (then an instructor at the University of the Philippines)
- Abul Khayr Alonto (then a law student at San Beda College)
When did the Upi Massacre, led by Feliciano Luces, occur?
March 22, 1970
What group was reportedly the military arm of the MIM, retaliating against the Ilaga?
Blackshirts
Who was the Christian Governor of Cotabato that was suspected of leading the Ilaga?
Lt. Col. Carlos B. Cajelo
Where were Muslim youths reportedly undergoing training, causing fears of a Moro uprising? (3)
- The Middle East
- Malaysia
- Secret camps in Cotabato
Which areas experienced increased tensions due to Christian migration? (2)
- Cotabato
- Lanao del Norte
What was a major consequence of Christian migration in Cotabato and Lanao del Norte? (2)
- Strained Muslim-Christian relations
- dissolved political alliances
What were the main consequences of the conflict in Mindanao by the end of 1970? (3)
- School closures
- Economic disruptions
- Mass displacement
How many Muslims, Christians, and Tiruray were forced to abandon their homes and farms due to the widespread violence in Mindanao by the end of 1970 according to the estimate of the Social Welfare Administration?
Approximately 30,000 people
Which groups were among those displaced due to the violence in Mindanao by the end of 1970? (3)
- Muslims
- Christians
- Tiruray
When and where did the Manili Massacre occur? (2)
- June 19, 1971
- a mosque in Barrio Manili, Carmen, North Cotabato, Philippines
Which group was responsible for the Manili Massacre?
Ilaga
How were Moro victims lured before the Manili Massacre?
Under the guise of a peace negotiation, they were lured into a mosque.
Who did the Manili Massacre target?
Moro men, women, and children
What were the contributing factors to the Manili Massacre? (3)
- Land disputes
- marginalization of Moros
- ethnic tensions
What was the international reaction to the Manili Massacre?
- drew attention from the Muslim world
- increased support for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
What were some of the notable violent incidents that followed the Manili Massacre in North Cotabato? (2)
- A battle between Constabulary troops and Blackshirts in Buldon in early August 1971.
- An Ilaga attack on Ampatuan later that month.
What significant political shift occurred during the November elections in North Cotabato? (3)
- a shift of political power from Muslims to Christians
- Christian ex-Philippine Constabulary Commander won against the incumbent Muslim governor
- most towns elected Christian mayors
What does the Manili Massacre symbolize in the Mindanao conflict? (2)
- tragic human cost of the conflict
- long-standing grievances of the Moro people.
Who were the political rivals who were allies in the 1960s involved in the Tacub Massacre in 1970s context? (2)
- Muslim congressman
- Christian governor in Lanao del Norte.
What caused the rivalry between the Muslim congressman and Christian governor in Lanao del Norte?
Their competition in the 1970 elections for the Constitutional Convention delegate
What election triggered the rivalry and violence in Lanao del Norte in 1971?
November 1971 elections for the governor’s position in Lanao del Norte.
A grenade exploded inside a mosque in Wao, leading to the evacuation of over 60 Muslim homes. When and where did this happen? (2)
- July 4, 1971
- Lanao del Sur
What armed Muslim group supported the Muslim candidate in the 1971 elections in Lanao del Norte?
Barracuda
Which Christian armed group confronted the Barracuda?
Christian Ilaga
What was the estimated number of evacuees during the conflict in September 1971?
50,000
When and where did this happen? 17 men and a 22-man constabulary patrol were ambushed and killed by the Barracuda. In retaliation, 66 Muslims were killed in a skirmish. (2)
- town of Magsaysay
- October 1971
Tacub Massacre
What was the reaction of displaced Muslims from Wao after the grenade explosion?
moved to Lake Lanao (where they vowed revenge)
Where did Muslims flee during the September 1971 evacuations caused by Barracuda and Christian Ilaga confrontations?
Towards the Lake Lanao area.
What were the reported retaliatory actions against Christians in Wao following the mosque explosion?
Christians being ambushed and their houses being burned in Wao.
Where did Christians evacuate during the September 1971 confrontations in Lanao del Norte? (4)
- Iligan
- Ozamis
- Cagayan de Oro
- Dumaguete
What occurred in the town of Magsaysay in October 1971? (2)
- 17 men and a 22-man constabulary patrol were ambushed and killed by Barracuda.
- The next day, 66 Muslims were killed in a retaliatory skirmish (revenge)
Did President Marcos and the military successfully mediate the Barracuda and Ilaga conflict?
No
What tragedy occurred on the day of the special elections in Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte?
A group of armed Moro voters, returning in trucks after dark, were fired upon by government troops in Barrio Tacub, Kauswagan, resulting in at least 40 deaths.
What happened to the bodies of the Moro victims in the Tacub Massacre?
bodies were reportedly mutilated by Christian civilian bystanders.
How many people were charged multiple homicide in connection with the Tacub Massacre, and who were they?
- 21 army personnel (including three officers)
- three civilians (including a Christian mayor)
What happened to the charges against the accused in the Tacub Massacre? (2)
By March 1972:
- charges against three civilians and five soldiers were dropped for lack of evidence
- disposition of the case against the remaining 16 soldiers was never reported.
Warfare in Magsaysay and nearby towns caused many voters to flee, delaying the election in those areas. What does this cause?
Special election in Lanao del Norte towns
When did the special election in Lanao del Norte towns happen?
November 22, 1971
When were elections held on time in unaffected towns during the 1971 Tacub conflict?
November 8, 1971.
What were the casualty and refugee numbers during the 1971 Mindanao War?
800 lives lost, 100,000 refugees
What are the three major Moro armed groups involved in the 1971-1972 Mindanao conflict? (3)
- Barracuda
- Blackshirts
- Bangsamoro Army
What areas saw an escalation of conflict in 1972 during the Mindanao War? (3)
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Balabagan (Lanao del Sur)
- Zamboanga del Norte
What were the Muslim emissaries’ findings regarding anti-Muslim violence in 1972?
Supported by some local Christian administrations
What phrase did Libyan emissary Ali Treki use to describe the Mindanao conflict in 1972?
“Religious War”
When was Martial Law declared in the Philippines?
September 21, 1972
How did the declaration of Martial Law influence the Muslim community in Mindanao?
strengthened the Muslims’ resolve to fight for independence
When did the first major defiance of Martial Law occur in Lanao del Sur?
On the morning of October 21, 1972.
What significant event occurred during the first major defiance of Martial Law in Lanao del Sur?
Several hundred Moro rebels attacked the Philippine Constabulary, seized the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus, and attempted to take the Pantar Bridge on the Marawi-Iligan road.
What did the rebels broadcast from the MSU campus radio station?
They broadcasted appeals for support from the Maranao populace, claiming that the Philippines had been against the Muslims since Spanish occupation and that overthrowing the government was necessary to freely practice Islam.
What did the rebels call themselves during the first major defiance of Martial Law? The group claimed responsibility for the October 21, 1972 Marawi attack.
“Mindanao Revolutionary Council for Independence”
When did government forces arrive in Marawi City during the first major defiance of Martial Law?
the evening of Saturday, October 21, 1972
How long did the battle in Marawi last during the government’s retaliation?
The battle raged for 24 hours, ending with the government taking control of the city.
What happened to Marawi after the battle between government forces and rebels?
Marawi became a “ghost town” for weeks
How many dissident groups were involved in the Marawi attack?
7
Who were some of the people involved in the Marawi attack? (3)
- teen-aged Maranaos, led by older men
- notorious outlaws
- former officials and politicians
What caused the attack on Marawi City?
triggered by the October 25 deadline for firearms turnover.
When did Moro youths begin preparing for secessionist guerrilla warfare?
1968 or 1969
Which Moro group emerged as the strongest and best-coordinated after the declaration of Martial Law?
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
What role did the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) play for Muslim Filipinos after the declaration of Martial Law? (2)
- chief voice for the grievances and aspirations of the Muslim Filipinos
- represented their plight in the high councils of the Muslim World.
Where did the MNLF receive material aid and assistance from? (2)
foreign Muslim groups, notably from Sabah and Libya
What was the estimated strength of the MNLF in 1973 and 1974 compared to the Bangsamoro Moro Army (BMA)?
MNLF had at least 15,000 armed forces (twice as many as the BMA)
What was the estimated percentage of Muslim Filipinos who supported the MNLF in 1974? Supported the government? Neutral? (3)
- 55% of Muslim Filipinos
- 15% sided with government
- 30% neutral
A professor who has followed affairs in Southern Philippines and summarized that Martial Law broadened the base of support, determined the timing of warfare by Muslim radicals, and left power almost exclusively in Christian hands.
Professor Lela Noble of San Jose State University
What were three critical characteristics of Martial Law that Professor Lela Noble identified as critical in the crisis? (3)
1) Centralization of the regime, leaving power almost exclusively in Christian hands.
2) Broadening the base of support for the Muslim radicals.
3) Determining the timing for the resort to warfare.
What were the casualty and displacement figures (civilians killed, armed Muslims and Christians killed, displaced and homeless) mentioned by President Marcos regarding the Mindanao and Sulu conflict?
- 1,000 civilians killed
- 2,000 armed Muslims and Christians killed
- 500,000 displaced and homeless
What is the military arm of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)?
Bangsa Moro Army (BMA)
Who is the founder of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)?
Hashim Salamat
