Last March 18, 2008, on the occasion of the 40th year of the Jabidah Massacre, members of the Bangsamoro National Solidarity Movement (BANGSA) trooped to Corregidor Island to become part of a historic event, that of the unveiling of the first ever marker commemorating Jabidah Massacre on the spot where it happened 40 years ago on Corregidor Island.

BANGSA Members at the Kindley Airfield, the very spot where the
Jabidah Massacre happened 40 Years ago.

What made this event truly historic was that, joining Rep. Mujiv Hataman in unveiling the marker was Mr. Jibin Arula, the lone survivor of the Massacre who lived to tell the world what happened on Corregidor Island that fateful day of March 18, 1968.

BANGSA mobilized members coming from its South Metro TOC (Territorial Organizing Committee) , North-Central TOC and the BANGSA MR-Secretariat. BANGSA Secretariat encouraged its members and prospects to participate in this once in a lifetime event for the purpose of consolidating its ranks. BANGSA reiterates its belief that the Jabidah Massacre became the decisive turning point in the contemporary struggle of the Bangsamoro for national self-determination and upon this cause, BANGSA is organized.

BANGSA Members at the Kindley Airfield, the very spot where the
Jabidah Massacre happened 40 Years ago.

The Corregidor trip was one consolidating experience for all BANGSA members and its new recruits. BANGSA is now looking for the possibility of making an annual journey to Corregidor as part of its organizational undertaking.

Looking back, the late Dictator Marcos wanted to reclaim Sabah, being historically part of the Bangsamoro territory, but failed, but at the expense of the lives of more than a dozen of Moro youth massacred on Corregidor. 40 years after, BANGSA and the Moro youth now reclaim Corregidor - to remind the world that the Bangsamoro’s struggle for Justice and Peace continues.

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Everybody knows Corregidor Island as a historic spot. Everybody knows that in this island hundreds of our gallant heroes stood their ground and died defending our country from the invading forces of Japan during World War II. Because of this historical circumstance, Corregidor Island is now a Tourist spot - a place for people to go on a memorial pilgrimage in honor of those who died heroically for our country.

But how many of us remember that on this same island, forty years ago, about two dozen Moro Youth were summarily executed by forces of the Philippine Government? This incident is now known to history as the infamous “Jabidah Massacre.”

In Brief, the Jabidah Massacre was a result of a bungled covert operation. In 1968, then President Marcos made a covert plan, codenamed OPERATION MERDEKA (Freedom), aimed at infiltrating Sabah, Malaysia to sow chaos and organize the locals of the island for an eventual invasion of Philippine forces to reclaim Sabah from Malaysia. Sabah was historically part of the Sultanate of Sulu.

A select unit of AFP officers gathered a number of Moro youth from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to a secret military training in Corregidor. Without them knowing their mission, these Moro youth thought that they were trained for some other purpose. But after learning about their real mission, they protested and refused to follow the mission. They would not want to take part in destroying the lives of people many of whom are their relatives. Marcos and his butchers knew only of one solution that will keep this botched mission from leaking out. Batch after batch, the young Moro trainees were mercilessly slaughtered at Kindley Field , an abandoned airstrip in the island of Corregidor. Had it not for a lone survivor who was able to tell the world about the massacre, the incident would have remained unknown. This single incident sparked the resurgence of the Moro liberation movement in the 70’s. And the rest is history.

We know that it happened but some refuse to recognize it because it has become a sort of a national shame. We seldom hear about it in our history classes, if ever it gets mentioned. There are even those who want to deny it ever happened, because more than the shame, it resurects the age-old question of the Bangsamoro’s right to self-determination, - a question which makes some people nervous. That is why for them, it would be better if this “unfortunate incident” is simply forgotten. But to the Bangsamoro, every March 18 that comes bring back not only the memory of Jabidah but also Bud Dajo, Bud Bagsak and many more massacres. The Jabidah Massacre becomes a symbol and reminder for the Bangsamoro to look back, in order to move forward.

On March 18, 2008, the day marking the 40th year of the Jabidah Massacre, the Office of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List Representative, Mujiv Hataman together with the Bangsamoro National Solidarity Movement (BANGSA), the Mindanaw Forum, Inc., Pinay Kilos (PinK), Moro Human Rights Center (MHRC), and other supporting organizations, will make a symbolic journey to Corregidor Island to unveil the first commemorative marker ever erected honoring the memory of those who died in the Jabidah Massacre. This historical marker was made possible through the efforts of Rep. Mujiv Hataman and the cooperation of Corregidor Foundation, Inc. A portion of the marker reads: “This marker serves as remembrance and beacon for us living to continue the struggle for justice…”

This symbolic journey banners the theme,”Lakbay Balik-Kasaysayan para sa Katarungan at Kapayapaan” and will be participated by officers of the National Council of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List, leaders of Muslim communities in Metro Manila and members of various Moro and Non-Moro organizations. Also, the Mindanao Peoples’Peace Caravan, who traveled from Mindanao to Manila to campaign for the signing of the Peace agreements between the GRP and the Moro rebels, will join with the journey to Corregidor as part of the culmination of their national caravan.

(This Article is taken with permission from the AMIN Party List Website)

(March 5, 200 Members of Anak Mindanao Party List - NCR Chapter and BANGSA - MMR held a picket rally in front of the National Office of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City.

The group held the picket rally to demand the Commission on Human Rights to heed the result of the probe and recommendations forwarded by the CHR Western Mindanao Office regarding the Maimbung, Sulu Massacre. In their joint statement, AMIN-NCR and BANGSA-MMR, reiterated the demands of the CHR Western Mindanao Office calling for the immediate filing of criminal and administrative case against those involved in the massacre of eight civilians which includes a pregnant woman and two children. The group also expressed their apprehensions for a cover-up of the case as the AFP Western Mindanao Command has already cleared the soldiers involved in the massacre.

The group made a short program on the grounds of CHR while a panel coming from their ranks were invited inside to have a dialogue with the CHR. As there were no Commissioners available at that time, the AMIN-BANGSA panel was instead met by lawyers of the CHR in the person of Atty. Homer Rusiano and Atty. Atillano. The AMIN-BANGSA panel forwarded their demands to the CHR lawyers. After a discussion of the case, both panels agreed to a proposal made by the CHR lawyers that the CHR will conduct a high profile dialogue and discussion which will include the following: WESMINCOM Chief Lt.Gen.Nelson Allaga, the Massacre Survivors, CHR Western Mindanao Director, Atty. Jose Manuel Mamauag, Congressman Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party list, Sulu Congressmen Yusop Jikiri and Munir Arbison , Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List, BANGSA and other Civil Society groups the CHR, AMIN and BANGSA would wish to invite. The picket rally dispersed peacefully after the panel meeting.

Click here for the AMIN-BANGSA Joint Statement

Click here to go to BANGSA Gallery for more Photos

So that others may know.

Here’s a primer about the ZTE-NBN Deal made and published by the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC). Download and copy this primer by clicking here or on the image below.:

BANGSA participated in the series of mobilizations calling for the ouster of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. BANGSA’s general slogan on the present political upheaval is “OUST GLORIA, Itayo ang Gubyernong tunay na magtataguyod sa mga karapatan ng Bangsamoro! (Establish a Government that will truly recognize the Rights of the Bangsamoro).”

A BANGSA contingent participated in the march rally to commemorate the first EDSA Revolution last February 25, 2008. The march started from Cubao to the EDSA Shrine. The PNP attempted but failed to stop the march in pushing head on till it reached the EDSA Shrine. On February 29, 2008, BANGSA once again mobilized and participated in the interfaith rally held in Makati City. In all these mobilizations, BANGSA joined and participated under the banner of the broad coalition, LABAN ng MASA.

BANGSA is gearing for more mobilizations to come calling for an end to the anti-Peace and anti-Moro government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

*Photos taken from the FDC Flicker site

Last February 15, 2008, the Bangsamoro National Solidarity Movement or BANGSA led a protest rally against US Forces in Mindanao after the Friday prayers at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila.

During the rally local religious leaders took turns in lambasting the expansion of US Military presence for a supposed joint US-Philippine Forces exercises in mainland Mindanao, particularly in the Lanao provinces. BANGSA leaders also condemned the recent Massacre in Maimbung, Sulu and the alleged involvement of US Forces in that incident. Rally organizers also called on the Government to resume the stalled peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The activity as reported in a photo news by Reuters via Yahoo News .

Later in the afternoon members of BANGSA trooped to Makati to join the people’s protest rally against corruption in Government and the call for the resignation of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

WELCOME to the Blog of the Bangsamoro National Solidarity Movement or BANGSA (see About Us).

BANGSA is an activist organization advancing the cause of the Bangsamoro people for national self-determination and democracy through mass actions and struggles. BANGSA will serve as a vehicle for the advancement and development of a new, independent, dynamic, progressive and democratic Mass Movement of the Bangsamoro people.

In this blog we will post updates of our activities and our analysis and position on various issues facing the Bangsamoro people. Feel free to make your comments.

The BANGSA Secretariat