Islam in the Philippines

Since the Philippines have alway remained a largely Catholic nation, a struggle between Catholics and Muslims in the nation has been going on since independence. The Jabidah Massacre of 1967 was a horrible atrocity against Filipino Muslims that is often regarded as the spark for the modern Moro Muslim insurgencies and rebellions in the Southern Philippines. As the one survivor of the attack recalls, the plan, otherwise known as ‘Operation Merdeka’ which was the code name for the real intended attack, involved taking 200 Tausug and Sama Muslims aged 18 to 30 from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, two regions of the Philippines. These young men believed they were being recruited to serve for the Philippine Armed Forces, and were excited about the benefits they would be getting.

However, after training was over they discovered the underlying plan that was to be enforced; the recruits would be sent to kill their own people, even many of their family and friends in their hometowns. They demanded to be sent home, but the trainers did not comply with their wishes. Therefore, the Jabidah planners saw only one choice. The survivor recounts his colleges being led out of the barracks in groups of twelves, hearing gunshots and seeing his friends fall to death.  Although the death total of these attacks ranges from only about 28 to around 60 Muslims, it left the Moro Muslims with a bitter resentment  toward the Philippine Armed Forces. This act went unpunished for the soldiers, which caused even more tension between the Moro Muslim society and the Philippine Armed Forces.

In response to the Jabidah Massacre, Nur Misuari formed Moro National Liberation Front, with the goal of separating Muslim territory from Philippine control. The main areas that Muslim forces, such as the Bangsa Moro Army, fight for, are the Mindandao and Sulu Islands. As mentioned earlier, the Mindandao Region now exists independent from the Philippine government as an autonomous state.