March 18, 1968
Today marks the 43rd commemoration of the Jabidah Massacre, wherein between 28 and 64 Moro youths were mercilessly massacred in Corregidor Island allegedly by the government soldiers under the command of then Gen. Fabian Ver during the Marcos dictatorial regime. It was happened when Moro recruits undergoing rigid training for sabotage, jungle warfare, and guerilla tactics in Simunul island of Tawi-Tawi and Corregidor, respectively.
It was widely believed that the purpose of the training was a secret preparation for the Philippine Military operation in Sabah-code named “Operation Merdeka”. This belief was substantiated by the revelation of Jibin Arula (the lone survivor of the carnage) made to report to the whole world the brutal incident because they refused to follow the order and execute the demon plan of then Pres. Marcos.
Afterwards, simultaneous condemnation from various sectors was staged against the government and the reason for the formation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and later the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The Senate and congressional inquiries into the Jabidah massacre in 1968 yielded inconclusive findings. No one was held accountable for the horrible killings. The officers and enlisted men who were court-martialed were all cleared. Alas, the Jabiddah massacre and other massacres including rampant of human rights violations and other carnage committed against the Bangsamoro have not given justice and it seems continuing up to this time.
The only living witness to the massacre, Jibin Arula has just passed away last month. Until his death he was not able to get justice, along with his comrades.
It is in this pursuit, the Bangsamoro Center for JustPeace (BCJP), a human rights and peace advocate organization, joins the Bangsamoro Civil Society and other peace organizations for the peaceful initiatives calling for the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) towards the signing of the negotiated political settlement of the Moro Question on the basis of the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination and freedom.
We firmly believe the justice that has been denied to the Bangsamoro will only be resolved through the signing of peace agreement-- for it is the most peaceful solutions and would finally resolve the Bangsamoro problem and conflict in Mindanao.
“Let us resolve the Mindanao conflict, sign and implement peace agreement! Now Na!”
Bangsamoro Center for JustPeace (BCJP)
Int. 003-c, Don E. Sero Street, Rosary Heights 4 Cotabato City,
Telephone No. +63 64 390-2726
Mobile No. +63999497293
Email Addresses: bc.justpeace@gmail.com,
centerforjustpeace@yahoo.com
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