The Moros and the Commonwealth Period (1936 to 1946)

Tydings-McDuffie Act
- provides for a commonwealth government and a constitutional convention.
Commonwealth Government
- a ten year transition period before the granting of the Philippine independence on July 4, 1846.
During the common wealth period there was Moro cooperation toward the government.
Moro leader who are in favor of the Philippine Independence with the Christian Filipinos:
> Alauya Alonto of Lanao
> Datu facundo Mandi

- On July 10, 1934, 202 delegates to the constitutional convention were elected. Elected delegates to
the constitutional convention for the 3 Moroland provinces: Datu Blah Sinsuat and Minandang Piang
of Cotabato, Arolas Tulawie and Jose Montano of Sulu, Alauya Alonto and Tomas Cabili of Lanao.
- These elected delegates did their best to represent the best interest of their people but... The
reactions of the Moros were varied. Some were in favor of the inclusion of Moros in Philippine
government, they are known as “Filipinists”.
- However, majority of the Moros was not favor of their inclusion in the Philippine government which
was generally administered and ruled by the Christian Filipinos.
- Many Marcos believed if the American would grant independence to Christian Filipinos, they should
also grant separate independence for the Moros.
- Others would prefer to remain under the Americans rather than to be included in the Philippine
Republic governed by the Christian Filipinos.
- Moro leaders gathered in different areas in Moroland and wrote petitions and letters addressed to
the Unted States expressing their determined.

Quezon’s Policies towards Mindanao during the Commonwealth:

> Development of Mindanao for the sake of the nation’s economy
> Strengthening the security in Mindanao as part of national security
> The advancement and integration of the Moros

End of special treatment to the Mors

Irritants in the position of the Moros under the Commonwealth:
> Abolition of the Bureau of non-Christian tribes
> Ending official recognition to the civil held by the Moros
> Abolition of the Moro board

The Japanese Occupation and it's after-effects

- The main motivation of Japan on her Asian expansion could be understood in the slogan “ASIA FOR
THE ASIANS”. Japan saw herself as leader of a self-proclaimed mandate of liberating Asia from the
West.
- Japan wanted to become a leader of Asian nations. It established the GREATER ASIA CO-
PROSPERITY SPHERE where asian countries would become cooperating of the union.
 - During early Japanese occupation, Davao and Jolo were invaded right away to provide air bases for
the advance on Borneo and the Celebes.
- Cotabato and Lanao were invaded in April 1942.
- Some of the Moros were enlisted in the USAFFE
- The USAFFE fought the Japanese forces.
- The Moros saw the Japanese as another group of invaders and therefore had to be fought.
- Japanese occupation was accompanied by the brutalities and terrorism.
- Moro leaders who cooperated with the Japanese and accepted positions in the Japanese Puppet
Government: Alauya Alonto of Lanao, Sinsuat Balabaran, Minandang Piang of Cotabato, Ombra
Amilbangsa of Sulu, Galamu Rasul of Sulu and Salih Utalalum of Sulu. Reason for their cooperation
were; It was making the best out of a bad situation and To serve the best interest of their people is to
ease the suffering of their people.
- Japanese occupation was limited only along the coastal areas with few garrisons in the interior
towns.

Moro Bolo Battalion

- A militia force in Lanao, guerillas were both Muslims and Christian with the Mranaws resorting to
their much-tested ambush and hit-and-run tactics. Those who were not accommodated in the regular
USAFFE joined in the guerilla battalions just to become involved in their war endeavors.
After-Effects of Japanese Occupation
> It welded to Muslim-Christian alliances
> Significant increase of monied wealth in Moroland
> Moros became armed again.
Issue on Collaboration
- Right after the war, some pro-Japanese were charged with treason before the People’s Court for
collaboration. When president Manuel Roxas assumed the presidency in 1946, he solved the
collaboration issue by proclaiming amnesty for all the political prisoners. He himself was a
“collaborator”, for he served well in the Philippine Puppet Government under president Jose P. Laurel

Post War Period: Under the Philippine Republic

- July 4, 1946 – granting of the Philippine Independence
- The new Philippine Republic inherited the Moro problem.
- Mindanao was seen a “land of promise” - a land which promised solutions to some of the political,
economic, and social problems in the north.
- The Moros of Mindanao and Sulu were seen as a problem because they were so backward and
stubborn.
Solutions designed by the government to solve the post war Moro problem:
> Maintaining peace and order; pursued with real energy the government.
> Promoting Moro integration into the mainstream Philippine life, primarily through education;
2 principal postwar instruments fashioned to promote the integration of the Moros:
a. Commission on National Integration (CNI) 1957-1975
b. Mindanao State University (MSU)
> Appropriating modicum amounts f funds for improved communication, health facilities, and other
public services and economic development in Moroland.
 - Economic aid to the Moroland up to 1970s was less than generous and very little of what was given
was of direct benefit to the Moros. In their view, far more was taken out of their region than was
returned to them in social benefits.
- Economic growth in Mindanao was clearly based in favor of the non-muslims population.
Resettlement After the Creation of the Republic of the Philippines
1. 1949: Rice and Corn Production Administration (RCPA) created to promote rice and corn
production.
2. 1950: Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDCECO)
3. 1951: Economic Development Corporation (EDCOR) for captured and surrendered Huks.
4. 1954: RA 1160 created National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA)
5. 1963: Land Authority (LA) inaugurated land reform, also managed resettlement.
6. 1971: RA 6389 created Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), did resettlement thru the
Bureau of Resettlement. It administered 37 settlements all over the country, 18 of them in
Mindanao in the ten provinces of Tawi-tawi (Balimbang-Bongao), Zamboanga del Norte
(Liloy, Salug, Sindangan), Bukidnon (Maramag, Pangantukan, Kalilangan), Agusan del Sur
(Prosperidad, Talacogon), Davao del Norte (Sto. Tomas, Panabo, Asuncion), Lanao del Norte
(Sapad, Nunungan, Karomatan), Lanao del Sur (Wao, Lumb-a Bayabao, Bubong, Butig,
Lumbatan, Bayang, Binidayan, Pagayawan, Tubaran), North Cotabato (Carmen, Alamada),
Maguindanao (Buldon, Upi-Dinaig) and Sultan Kudarat (Columbio, Tulunan, Isulan,
Bagumbayan, Surallah).
Administrative Integration of the Moros
- until 1950, Moroland province (Lanao, Cotabato, and Sulu) were governed as special provinces
under the Commissioner for Mindanao and Sulu.
- In 1950, administration of the Moroland provinces was placed in the hands of local officials elected
by the people.
- By 1957, the process of Morolands administrative and structural integration was completed and
the special status of the Morland provinces was dropped.
- Responsibility for furthering other aspects of the Moro integration was given to the Commission on
National Integration created by the congress in 1957 under Republic Act No.1888.
Growing Islamic Consciousness
- the most important political effect of the Islamic resurgence during the postwar period was the
growing unity of the Muslim Filipinos that strengthened their sense of nationality.
Deepening Alienation
- Causes of the deterioration of Moro relations with Christian and the government they dominated;
1. Moro perceptions of real and imagined economic and educational deprivation;
2. Growing political disadvantage in their own homeland
3. Intrusion of the heavy hand of government (including military) in local affairs;
4. Communal animosities occasioned by the abrasive encounter of cultures;
5. Fears of Christianization
6. And competition with outsiders for land in their home territory
Mindanao Problem under the Philippine Republic
- In Mindanao, the Moros were disenchanted with the republic, and there the chief problem, though
not only one, was competition for land (that resulted from the opening of resettlement programs of
the government). Cotabato and Lanao were the areas of Moroland most dramatically affected by the
postwar influx of thousands of migrant families.
 - Reason why there was so much unrest with regard to land; “Ignorance and poverty on the part of
the cultural minorities and connivance between influential people, local politicians, and government
agents in charge of the disposition of land matters.
Postwar problems in Sulu
- during the post war period were related to socio-economic ills, such as poverty, illiteracy, lack of
sanitation, poor, roads, and so on. The Philippine Senate Committee on National Minorities report on
the causes of the Sulu problems;
1. The restriction of trade between Sulu and Borneo
2. The absence of canneries
3. Difficulties in securing employment
4. The need to improve the turtle egg industry at Taganak
5. Food shortages
- Sulu had the highest population density of all the southern provinces but the people had very
limited opportunity for legitimate employment. Thus, in desperation, some Suluanos turned to
illegitimate employment like smuggling, piracy and banditry. The government used the military in
dealing with the Sulu problem.
Congressman Datu Ombra Amilbanga
- In 1961 introduced House Bill 5682 caling for the granting and recognizing the independence of
the province of Sulu. This was caused by;
1. Constabulary abuses
2. Very minimal economic aid given to Sulu
3. For treating Sulu as a forgotten corner of the Republic of the Philippines