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The abandoned hospital on Corregidor Island in Cavite, once used as a training site for young Moro recruits before the 1968 Jabidah Massacre, stands in ruins—a silent witness to a dark chapter in history. (Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Fifty-seven years after the Jabidah Massacre, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) continues to reflect on the painful lessons of this tragedy while strengthening its commitment to justice and peace.
To mark the commemoration, the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) held a program on Tuesday, March 18, at the Shariff Kabunusan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City. The event gathered government officials, stakeholders, and members of the Bangsamoro community to honor the victims and renew the call for unity and justice.
The Jabidah Massacre, which took place on March 18, 1968, saw the brutal killing of young Moro Army recruits—estimated between 11 and 68—on Corregidor Island, known as “The Rock Island.” The recruits were undergoing training under “Operation Merdeka,” a secret mission aimed at destabilizing Sabah to justify the Philippines’ territorial claim.
Minister Hussein Muñoz of MPOS emphasized the significance of commemorating this dark chapter in Bangsamoro history.
“The Jabidah Massacre stands as a deeply significant and heartbreaking chapter in the history of the Bangsamoro people. It is our solemn duty to commemorate this event, not only to honor its victims but also to emphasize its profound importance to our ongoing struggle for justice, unity, and self-determination,” Muñoz said.
He paid tribute to the young Moro men whose lives were taken, acknowledging their role in shaping the Bangsamoro’s continuing pursuit of self-determination.
Muñoz also urged the Bangsamoro people to carry forward the legacy of those who perished.
“In their memory, we are called to continue their noble fight by fostering a just, peaceful, and progressive Bangsamoro community—one where such injustices are never repeated,” he stated.
Chief Minister Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua echoed this sentiment, reaffirming BARMM’s unwavering commitment to upholding the ideals for which the martyrs sacrificed their lives.
In his message for the Day of Shuhada, Macacua emphasized the moral duty of the Bangsamoro people to protect the gains of their struggle:
“Justice for our martyrs is found not only in remembering them, but in ensuring their sacrifices lead to a just, peaceful, and thriving Bangsamoro, where their dreams continue to flourish.”
He called on the Bangsamoro community to remain steadfast in their pursuit of peace and justice, ensuring that the autonomy they now enjoy is preserved through moral governance, unity, and self-determination.
As BARMM remembers the Jabidah Massacre, the call for justice, unity, and self-determination remains a defining force in shaping the future of the Bangsamoro people. (Majid Nur/BIO)