Aquino wants 'Mindanao Garden of Peace' a historical landmark

In recognition of the tragic Jabidah massacre that happened 45 years ago, President Benigno Aquino III has directed the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to designate the "Mindanao Garden of Peace" on this island as a historical landmark.

"It is also my hope that my visit here today will mark our government's further recognition of the suffering that our Moro brothers went through," the President said in his speech Monday during the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the infamous Jabidah Massacre here.

It was the first time that a Philippine president commemorated the Jabidah massacre, which has for its theme, "Learning from History, Uniting for People," although Muslim groups have traditionally marked the tragedy where young Muslim recruits being trained for a covert operation to occupy Sabah were killed by government forces in Corregidor.

"Though we cannot undo the wrongdoing of the past, today, we have the responsibility of ensuring that this does not happen again. May this remind us that we could have all avoided the deaths of our countrymen; God willing, in remembering these events and the lessons they can impart, the deaths of our countrymen will gain meaning," the President said.

The Mindanao Garden of Peace is a strong reminder not only for the Filipinos but also to the whole world that both Muslims and Christians, desire true, genuine and lasting peace.

The Jabidah massacre, also known as the Corregidor massacre, refers to the massacre of a number of young Moro recruits from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, with estimates ranging from 28 to more than 200, by their military handlers on the island of Corregidor.

The recruits were undergoing training for a government-sponsored covert military operation dubbed "Operation Merdeka" with the objective of invading Sabah, which until now is being claimed by the Sultanate of Sulu but was unilaterally annexed by Malaysia after it formed its federation.

Records showed that Colonel Eduardo "Abdullatif" Martelino started the commando-type of training that involved jungle warfare at Camp Sophia, which was named after his wife from Simunul, Tawi-Tawi where the training camp was set up. The trainees were later shipped to Corregidor by naval boat.

Jibin Arula, one of the Jabidah trainees from Siasi, Sulu, was the lone survivor who managed to tell about the massacre that led to an investigation by the Senate after the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino denounced the massacre of the Moro trainees in a privilege speech.

In the second phase of the training, the trainees became mutinous when they discovered that their true mission was to invade Sabah, which would mean not only fighting their brother Muslims but also possibly killing their own Tausug and Sama relatives living there.

The recruits also were chafing over the non-payment of the promised monthly stipend. The recruits then demanded to be returned home which their handlers could not allow.

President Aquino said the Jabidah incident is connected to the issue of the ownership of Sabah.

"We will begin to resolve this issue not through speculation or mere opinion, but by identifying irrefutable truths," he said.

"I have a responsibility to dissect history in search of these truths, and from there, to lay down the direction that our country will take as regards Sabah – a direction that I guarantee you will not involve the use of violence," he said.

The President said he has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of the Executive Secretary "to conduct the research, and to recommend a roadmap that will lead us to the peaceful resolution of the Sabah issue."

Prior to his order for the crafting of a roadmap, the Chief Executive had already formed a team to study the status of the Philippines' claim on Sabah and how the government can move it forward.

The team is composed of the DOJ, which will study the legal basis of the claim; DFA to look into the policy; and the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office to do historical research.

"Though we cannot undo the wrongdoing of the past, we have, however, a responsibility to the present – an obligation to bequeath a much better future to the next generation of Filipinos," he stressed.

President Aquino was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr., Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manolo Quezon III, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas and other government officials.

Also in attendance were Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv S. Hataman, Colonel Artemio Matibag, and Sister Ma. Lourdes Arnold Noel. (PNA)