Struggles of Moros

A timeline

1920 – 1930
Several Moro leaders did not wish to be part of the Philippine independence. They preferred to
remain under the US.
1956
It was investigated that Moro experienced problems ranging from failure of governance to loss of
land, from loss of identity to Moro resistance against
integration.
1968
The Creation of Moro National Liberation Front by Nur Misuari. The Jabidah massacre
happened where in 26 Muslim trainees from Sulu were massacred in the island of Corregidor by
their military trainers for going against them. other versions said that the trainees were
petitioning for their allowance which was already delayed by more than a month.
1971
Not a single day passed without a violent incident between the Muslims and Christians in Central
Mindanao. Several massacres happened from January to December 1971, one of these was the
Tacub Massacre, a flock of unarmed Muslim voters were gunned down by government troops in
Lanao del Norte. Manili Massacre also happened in which Muslim men, women and children
who were gathered for a peace conference were slaughtered inside a mosque in the town of
Carmen, Cotabato.
1972
Bangsamoro, organized as MNLF, declared war of national liberation and their intention to
establish the Bangsamoro Republic in the region that they claimed as their ancestral homeland,
particularly the islands of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan. After former president Ferdinand
Marcos declares martial law, all civilians were ordered to surrender their guns which created a
conflict. The Moro thought that the Philippine government has a different intention towards
them.
 1972 -1976
100,000 – 120,000 people were killed during the war - fifty percent MNLF, thirty percent
military and twenty percent civilians.
1977
Salamat Hashim announced an Instrument of Takeover of the MNLF leadership. Misuari
countered by expelling Hashim and charging him with treason. Hashim formed the “new MNLF”
that eventually became the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
2000
Former president Joseph Marcos declared all-out war policy against the MILF the alleged basis
for the said policy was the occupation of the Narciso Ramos highway by the MILF, which was a
direct affront to the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and the Republic of the Philippines.
Prior to this, both the Philippine government and MILF tried to make a win-win formula that
would benefit both parties. The policy never solved the problem and resulted to a bloody war.
2001
After his group signed a peace agreement with the Ramos administration, Misuari said the
government failed to comply with the peace pact and uplift the living standards of Mindanaoans.
3 Americans, the hospital staff and several Filipinos were held hostage. One of three American
hostages held by Moslem gunmen in the Philippines has reportedly been wounded in a clash
between the kidnappers and government troops. Misuari was arrested by Malaysian authorities
after trying to escape.
2007
A clash between the Philippine government and MNLF took place on February 2007. Marine
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino and 18 others were held hostage. the hostage takers demanding
more benefits under the 1996 peace accord.
2008
The Philippine supreme court proposed an unconstitutional peace talk between MILF and the
government, which resulted to a renewed conflict that kills 350 people and displacing 1 million.
2009
After Misuari’s release, they struck again in August 2009, with 30 to 40 rebels occupying
Mantangule Island in Palawan. They took hostage 7 people on the island.
 2011
On September 2011, 50 MNLF members attacked a military post in Talipao, Sulu. Eleven of the
rebels were killed.
2013
A clash between ASG and MNLF took place February 2013 after Misuari told commander Malik
to make war with ASG if two hostages were not released. The fight continued killing 20 and
displacing 2,000 people in Sulu. On September 09, 2013, MNLF attacked Zamboanga City.
2014
After 4 decades of conflict, MILF signs final peace deal in March 2014. Under the historic peace
deal, the MILF agreed to decommission its arms in gradual, specific phases as the government
also made a parallel commitment to reduce military troops in Mindanao. The MILF will not
surrender their arms to the government but rather put them “beyond use.”