Corregidor Island, Cavite – As part of the annual “Bangsamoro History Month”, the Ministry of Public Order and Safety of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Government lead the commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the Jabidah Massacre on March 18, 2023, held at Mindanao Garden of Peace, Corregidor Island, Cavite. This is in accordance with Proclamation No. 0001, series of 2021, issued by Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Government.
The commemoration served as a reminder of the importance of healing the past, reconciling the present, and uniting the future generations of the Bangsamoro. MPOS Minister Hussein P. Muñoz said “We promote transitional justice, unity, and reconciliation. This is a form of moving forward for a peaceful and systematic approach towards the transformation of our political systems, conflicts, and other conditions that may have been at the root of the abuses.” He said during his keynote speech during the ceremony. He added, “This commemoration is not to ignite emotions of the past but rather an initiative towards healing, reconciliation, and unity of all the people in the country.”
55 years ago, on March 18, 1968, an estimated 200 young Tausug and Sama men recruited from the Island Province of Sulu were unceremoniously slain. These young recruits were training to be soldiers for the top-secret “Operation Merdeka,” a military plot aimed at invading and reclaiming the territory of Sabah. The Moro rebellion in Mindanao was triggered by this event, which created a collective consciousness that defined the Bangsamoro right to self-determination. It motivated Former Governor Udtog Matalam of Cotabato to call for Mindanao’s independence from the Philippines and establish the Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM). Additionally, Former Lanao Del Sur Congressman Haroun Alrashid Lucman initiated legislative actions in Congress but failed to gain enough support, resulting in its dismissal. This experience led him to believe that Muslims should govern themselves in Muslim Mindanao, causing him to establish the Bangsamoro Liberation Organization (BMLO).
Another result of this historical incident in Corregidor was the formation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which led to the establishment of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the current organization in charge of the Bangsamoro Government The event is a testament to the Bangsamoro’s resilience and unity in the face of adversity. The Bangsamoro Government stands in solidarity with the families and communities affected by this tragedy and vow to work toward a future where such atrocities are never repeated.
NCMF’s NCR Regional Director Dir. Dimapuno A. Datu Ramos Jr., one of the representatives from the National Government Agency graced the event and said, “𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘰 𝘰 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘺𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘪. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥.”
Around 130 individuals attended the commemoration recognizing and honoring the victims of historical injustices as well as facilitating social healing, reconciliation, and unity among future generations of the Bangsamoro.
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