Young Muslim recruits were housed in this abandoned hospital located at the heart of Corregidor Island in Cavite in 1968. (Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
“Ah no idea po dyan.” [ I have no idea about that.]
“Di ba sa Zamboanga yun?” [That’s in Zamboanga, right?]
“Ih di ku katawan ngin intu.” [ I don’t know about that.]
“Nya ba su nabpunan na Bangsamoro.” [That event led to the inception of Bangsamoro.]
These are some of the remarks you might hear when people are asked about their knowledge of the Jabidah Massacre—the flashpoint of the long and arduous struggle that has shaped the tumultuous history of the region and molded the present Bangsamoro.
An event deeply etched in the memories of our forefathers, yet its significance is overshadowed by a veil of unawareness which has shrouded the newer generation.
Sittie Aisa Mama, 63, whose brother took part of the armed struggle since 1972, shared her recollections about the devastating Jabidah Massacre.
“Ah namba su time a ni recruit su mga Sulug para sa operation a makwa i Sabah. Uged na tuba mga recruit antu na inimatayan na commander niran. Nanden ba man i nadsabapan a kinadtimbaka siya sa Mindanao,” she said.
[At that time, some members of the Tausug community were enlisted for an operation to reclaim Sabah. However, this resulted in the recruits’ deaths at the hands of their commander. The revelation triggered the armed conflicts in Mindanao.]
The echoes of the unjustly lost lives continue to reverberate through the collective awareness of our elders, a story that younger Bangsamoro should reflect on–the dreadful record of the Jabidah Massacre, a stark reminder of the roots of our relentless campaign in pursuing justice.
The Tragic Jabidah Massacre
It was on the 18th day of March 1968 when an insidious and incomprehensible event shook and tore through the Moro community. An estimate of 200 Tausug and Sama men were brutally executed by hand of the military of the Philippine Government.
Recounted by the lone survivor, Jibin Arula, men from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi were recruited and were promised to be paid 50-pesos, which they did not receive, after being part of a top-secret operation, the Operation Merdeka, whose mission was to reclaim from Malaysian government the disputed Sabah territory.
This intention of invading Sabah was never revealed to them until later, where backing out was no longer a viable option.
The initial phase of the training took place in Camp Sofia in Simunul Island. After which, they were boarded on a Philippine Navy Vessel bound to Corregidor or the “Rock Island”, where they were informed of the true goal of the operation. It entails the killing of their Muslim brethren in Sabah, something against their morals, hence wanting to abandon their ranks which led to a gruesome massacre orchestrated by some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Upon Arula’s disclosure, clamor and outcry amongst the victims’ family members and the people across the region heightened, paving the way to the creation of various movements seeking for justice and accountability, ultimately becoming the catalyst for the years of bloody battles with the Mujahideen at the forefront.
56th Year of Remembrance
On March 18 of this year, the Bangsamoro Government commemorated the 56th anniversary of the Jabidah Massacre at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) inside the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City as part of the Bangsamoro History Month, pursuant to the BARMM’s Proclamation No. 1, series of 2021.
Various civil society organizations and students from different schools attended and participated in the different contests, including photo essay, spoken poetry, and essay writing, led by the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS).
The essay writing contest was dominated by Raine Cyrene V. Quitiol, bagging the 1st place, Sharifa Safrina G. Buttongah getting the 2nd place, and Bai Rasmia T. Abag placing 3rd.
In photo essay contest, Datu Abdulhier Asakil Jalani emerged victorious, securing the top spot, while Kasmer claimed second place, and Fuzziyah Mamokhan secured the third place.
Further, the spoken poetry competition saw Sakira Sama clinch the first place, followed by Garret Dayaday in second place, and Raihana Ginomia in third place.
Certificates and cash prizes of P15,000, P10,000, and P8,000 for first, second, and third place, respectively, were awarded to the winners. Other contestants were also awarded with certificates and a consolation prize of P5,000.
MPOS Peace Officer V Janin Gamao-Balt said, “We comemmorate Jabidah Massacre [and Dansalan Declaration] to help preserve historical memory. We are invested to gather younger generation in events like this to create a mental bookmark in their consciousness.”
“We are with the hope that by recognizing the significance of these events and their impact to the Bangsamoro history, we remain relevant to the ongoing struggles of the Bangsamoro people,” she added.
This annual event compels us to look back and honor the profound sacrifices, unwavering determination, and lives laid down by our courageous men and women in our pursuit to equality and freedom and the unyielding efforts of our leaders in forging the peace that is reigning today in the region.
In a message given by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, he highlighted the significance of preserving historical memory to ensure that future generations understand the struggles of their ancestors and the shared experience of injustice and resilience that left a deep mark in our identity as Bangsamoro.
“It is our collective duty to ensure that our narrative endures, so that our children and their children understand and appreciate the sacrifices made to preserve our identity, our faith, our culture, and our history,” he said.
Undoubtedly, heeding the lessons of the past builds a roadmap of a better tomorrow―a more peaceful, just, inclusive, and harmonious Bangsamoro. (Bai Omairah Yusop/BIO)
