Muslims remember Jabidah Massacre

Manila Bulletin, National News, Page 2, March 18, 2009
By Edd K. Usman

The Bangsamoro people, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), many civil society organizations (CSOs) and other peace advocates will mark today the 41st year of the infamous Jabidah Massacre on Corregidor Island where 28 Moro trainees were killed by Marcos regime's Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Not one of the military officers said to be involved in the gruesome massacre of the Moro youth, said to be from 28 to 60 killed, was punished.

Assalam Bangsamoro People's Association (ABPA) president Pendatun Disimban said court-martial proceedings were held, a preliminary Supreme Court hearing was also done in 1970, but AFP officers Eduardo L. Martelino, Cirilo Oropesa, Teodoro Facelo, Ruperto Amisoto, Alberto Soteco, Solferino Titong, and others, escaped punishment.

"The case just vanished in thin air," the Assalam founding leader said.

In Metro Manila, commemoration will be done in Maharalika Village in Taguig City through a "Kanduri" or thanksgiving feast, while other Moro groups will sail to Corregidor Island for another activity related with the observance.

Pendatun said observances have been going on in Mindanao, such as in Davao City, Marawi City, Cotabato City, among others, in the days immediately leading to March 18, when on this night only Jibin Arula, then a young Tausug trainee, survived the massacre by jumping off a cliff on Corregidor Island, attaching to a drift wood and swimming, while wounded, to nearby Cavite.

"This is an infamous day that should not be forgotten by every freedom-loving human being, whether you are a Muslim, a Christian, a Hindu, or a pagan. Those who love peace and respect human rights, let us recall the Jabidah Massacre and help resolve it will never happen again," said Disimban.

Jabidah Massacre, which the then Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. exposed in the halls of Congress, led the then Prof. Nur Misuari to form the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), thus the radicalization of the Moro youth started.

It also sparked the Moro people's struggle for independence, due also to discrimination from the national government.