Ilaga
Encyclopedia
The Ilaga is a Christian
militia
in the Philippines
that operated during the 1970s in Southern Mindanao
that fought against Moro Islamist
militia. Increased tensions in the Philippines since 2008 have since seen the reemergence of the armed vigilante
group calling themselves the Bag-ong Ilaga (Visayan: New Ilaga). Since 2008 violence flared up with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
and the Armed Forces of the Philippines
after the Supreme Court of the Philippines
overruled the proposed treaty for an Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
. The group committed its bloodiest act in June 1971 when it massacred 65 civilians in a mosque
.
(MNLF) communities. Some members reportedly cut off the ears of dead Muslims and wore them around their necks as trophies. One senior member, Norberto Manero, aka Kumander Bukay, also gained notoriety in the 1980s after he was convicted of murdering Italian priest Tullio Favali whom he had suspected of having links with communist insurgents. Santiago (spokesperson of the Reform Ilaga Movement), who is in his mid-60s, claimed that his group had at least 10,000 armed members and 10,000 more supporters. At the press conference, the Philippine Daily Inquirer
saw some 300 armed men present. Some fighters had amulets, which, Santiago said, “came from their elders during the time of Commander Toothpick.” The amulets are believed to lose their powers when a person using it had done something bad. “Our instruction to them is not to go to battle if they have done something wrong against other people. To follow God’s commandments to avoid accidents that may lead to their deaths,” Santiago said.
Christianity in the Philippines
The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia, the other being East Timor. About 93% of the population is Christian, about 5% are Muslim and about 2% are other or none.-History:...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
that operated during the 1970s in Southern Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
that fought against Moro Islamist
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
militia. Increased tensions in the Philippines since 2008 have since seen the reemergence of the armed vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
group calling themselves the Bag-ong Ilaga (Visayan: New Ilaga). Since 2008 violence flared up with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
and the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
after the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
overruled the proposed treaty for an Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that is composed of predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is the only region that has its own government...
. The group committed its bloodiest act in June 1971 when it massacred 65 civilians in a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
.
Massacre in mosque
Violence attributed to the Ilaga reached its bloodiest in June 1971 with the massacre of 65 men, women and children inside a mosque at Barangay Manili in Carmen, North Cotabato. The group was composed of untrained villagers used by the military to attack Moro National Liberation FrontMoro National Liberation Front
The Moro National Liberation Front is a political organization that was founded by Nur Misuari in 1969. The MNLF struggles against the Philippine Government to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro Land...
(MNLF) communities. Some members reportedly cut off the ears of dead Muslims and wore them around their necks as trophies. One senior member, Norberto Manero, aka Kumander Bukay, also gained notoriety in the 1980s after he was convicted of murdering Italian priest Tullio Favali whom he had suspected of having links with communist insurgents. Santiago (spokesperson of the Reform Ilaga Movement), who is in his mid-60s, claimed that his group had at least 10,000 armed members and 10,000 more supporters. At the press conference, the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
saw some 300 armed men present. Some fighters had amulets, which, Santiago said, “came from their elders during the time of Commander Toothpick.” The amulets are believed to lose their powers when a person using it had done something bad. “Our instruction to them is not to go to battle if they have done something wrong against other people. To follow God’s commandments to avoid accidents that may lead to their deaths,” Santiago said.
External links
- “Ilaga revival to make things worse – Piñol” Philippine Daily InquirerPhilippine Daily InquirerThe Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
, retrieved September 14, 2008