Inside Barmm: Anecdotes from the history of conflict
Sala Jubahir, a pragmatic high-ranking officer in the Moro revolutionary movement during the late '70s, sat alongside me and 20 other seasoned Mindanaon journalists during an immersive training session on the socio-political landscape of the Bangsamoro region. Organized by the Mindanao Institute of Journalism, the media organization that runs MindaNews, in partnership with International Media Support and co-funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, the intensive training was an opportunity to learn — an interactive walkthrough into understanding the region’s long-standing struggles for autonomy, peace, and cultural identity.
On March 20, 2025, Jubahir, a former leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), handed me a copy of his personal book, Bangsamoro: A Nation Under Endless Tyranny, just as the controversial second appointment of an interim chief for the Moro people, governing the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), was making headlines.
As I read his words, particularly from the third edition published in 1999, I found myself reflecting on the historical context that has shaped the region’s complex political landscape. It was a reminder that “peace” or “kalinaw”, as it is known in the local tongue, is not merely the result of recent political agreements. It is the product of centuries of resistance and struggle.
For many, peace in Mindanao is tied to key events: the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., political tensions, and hostilities between the Philippine government and Moro rebel groups. The Moro insurgency began with the Jabidah massacre on March 18, 1968, where 60 Filipino Muslim recruits, part of a failed operation to reclaim Sabah, were killed. In response, the Philippine government promoted migration through the Homestead Program which ran from 1903 to 1973, encouraging landless Christians to settle in Mindanao.
Without a land titling system in place, Christian settlers exploited the situation, leading to disputes over land ownership and tensions between Moros and Christians.
In 1972, Nur Misuari founded the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which led to armed conflict with the MILF in 1977 and the infamous all-out war declared by former President Joseph Estrada in 2000.
These events were not isolated; they were part of a broader history of resistance against colonization.
The Moro people’s fight for self-determination predates the struggles of the 20th century. During the Spanish colonial period, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century, the Moro people were fierce in their resistance to both Spanish rule and efforts to suppress their Islamic faith.
Sultan Dipatuan Muhammad Quart of the Maguindanao Sultanate, who ascended the throne in 1619, was particularly noted for his defiance against Spain. His reign marked the golden age of the Maguindanao Sultanate, and he successfully repelled the Spanish for half a century. As noted in Jubahir’s book, the friars of the time called him the "thunderbolt of Lucifer," a testimony to the power he wielded in resisting colonial subjugation.
“The crucial point in the history of the Moros came in 1619 when Sultan Dipatuan Muhammad Quart ascended the throne of the Maguindanao Sultanate.
During his reign, the sultanate achieved power and fame unparalleled in the entire history of Mindanao and Sulu. He was gifted with the exquisite qualities of a great leader. He was intelligent, religious, decisive, kind, and just. Holding Spain at bay for half a century and outlasting at least eight governor-generals," he was regarded as "providentially created to punish the bad Spaniards," as he notes on pages 43-44 of his critically acclaimed book.
But the Moro people's resistance did not end with the Spanish. It continued under the American colonial administration, whose influence permeated the political structures of the Philippines, as apparent in the 1935 and 1987 Philippine Constitutions. These documents were heavily influenced by American constitutional traditions, including the principles of separation of powers and a Bill of Rights, which led to the Moro Rebellion between 1902 and 1913. This revolt against American colonial rule was just one chapter in the Moro people’s long history of resistance against external forces.
The struggle for autonomy has always been intertwined with the fight for economic justice. Mindanao, despite its rich natural resources and cultural diversity, has long suffered from underdevelopment, largely due to the unequal distribution of wealth and power in the Philippines.
Much of the country’s economic focus on advancements and resources are concentrated into Luzon, leaving the southern region, particularly the Bangsamoro areas, in perpetual economic unstability. This imbalance has hampered progress, preventing Mindanao from fully realizing its potential and contributing to its people's ongoing hardship.
Inside Barmm: Dynamics, transition, and transformation
Efforts to resolve the Moro people's struggles have been made, but progress has been slow and marked by setbacks. Diplomatic initiatives by several administrations, from former President Corazon Aquino to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, failed to fully address the grievances of the Moro people.
However, the peace process gained significant momentum under President Benigno Aquino, who played a vital role in the successful negotiations with the MILF, culminating in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in 2014. This agreement laid the foundation for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), a historic milestone in the peace process.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte continued this momentum by facilitating the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in 2018, which fully established the Barmm in 2019. This law fulfilled many of the aspirations set forth in previous agreements and marked a significant step toward recognizing the Moro people's right to self-determination.
Yet, despite these advances, challenges remain. Outdated stereotypes and prejudices about Mindanaoans continue to hinder full integration and understanding of the region’s complex history.
Many people, especially outsiders who have never visited this beautiful region, still hold biased views. What they don’t realize is that the Bangsamoro economy is thriving, contrary to popular misconceptions.
Inside Barmm: Moros are Filipinos
On the third day of our training, March 21, we traveled to Camp Abubakar, now Camp Iranun, a Philippine Army military base located in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines.
Coincidentally, it was also the commemoration of the fall of Abubakar.
It is named after the Iranun people, a Moro ethnic group native to the area encompassing the boundaries of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and North Cotabato provinces. I had a face-to-face interview with Nasir Mamariong, a member of the Iranun tribe, who said that Moros are not enemies of the state. He emphasized that the MILF is fighting for justice, peace, and self-determination, and that they are also Filipinos, wanting to be part of the country.
"Kani ra amoang gusto makab-ot. Kalinaw. Dili mi kalaban. Mu-respeto mi ug respetado mi na mga Moro (This is all we want to achieve. Peace. We are not enemies. We respect as we are a respected Moros)," he said, describing his life as an MILF member. He explained that although he wanted to pursue a four-year university education, his commitment to the Moro cause and the fight for self-determination delayed his plans.
Inside Barmm: The founder’s strong and empathetic revolutionary leadership
Hashim Salamat, a Filipino militant, was the founder and leader of the MILF.
In 1967, he moved to Cairo to further his studies, enrolling at Al-Azhar University. There, he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology, majoring in Aqeedah and Philosophy, and later completed a postgraduate master’s degree in 1969. Salamat also pursued a doctorate but was unable to finish his dissertation due to his decision to return to the Philippines to organize a Moro revolutionary movement.
Salamat died on July 13, 2003, in one of the MILF's camps in Butig, Lanao del Sur, due to complications from heart disease and an acute ulcer, though the MILF publicly confirmed his death on August 5.
Suaib Adam, a former MILF member who joined before the 2000 all-out war, shared that their leader, Hashim Salamat, instilled in them the importance of discipline and respect. He said, “Kung ano yung narating ngayon doon sa pag-uusap ay disiplinado po ang original na MILF dahil sa katuruan ng aming leader na si Hashim Salamat,” emphasizing how Salamat taught them to respect the environment and the people around them, guided by the teachings of the Quran.
Adam also clarified that there were no political prisoners within their movement during this time.
Now, Adam serves in the Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT) in the Bangsamoro context. This initiative, formed by the Philippine government and the MILF, aims to transform MILF camps into peaceful and productive communities as part of the Bangsamoro peace process.
Adam shared that, with the ongoing peace process, they have been able to assist the community, from developing farm-to-market roads to creating jobs.
“Masayang-masaya ako dahil ito yung gusto namin sa Moro at sa gobyerno,” he added, expressing his happiness about the positive changes brought by the peace process.
Inside Barmm: Reflection of a 24-year-old outsider
A 400-kilometer journey from Mindanao's tri-people area was a result of knowing the dynamics of the island’s long-depicted war zone. As I reflect on my visit to Bangsamoro and read Jubahir's book, I am reminded that the journey toward peace is not linear.
It is a process deeply rooted in a century of resistance, shaped by struggles for autonomy, identity, and justice. The road ahead may be long, but the people of the Bangsamoro region, who have endured so much, remain resilient in their pursuit of peace and self-determination.
During my visit, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, learn about their struggles, and engage with the people. I traveled through areas of Bangsamoro, especially in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao del Norte, an MILF strongest point, meeting with the newest interim Chief, seeing areas that were once devastated by violence, including roads where 750lb bombs were dropped on MILF bases, targeting communications facilities. I realized that violence was never the solution to their quest for self-determination. Instead, a peaceful, diplomatic approach, guided by mutual respect and understanding, holds the key to lasting peace.
Inside Barmm, there is no more war; it is a place of peace. The MILF has built a constructive relationship with the government, and although the peace process has provided a way forward, it is essential that peace within the region is nurtured and maintained through respect and understanding.
As Brigadier General Romulo D. Quemado PN(M), Brigade Commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, aptly put it, “If we keep on cycling in conflict, how can we move forward as a people? They are not enemies; we are the same. We are Filipinos.”
As I leave the region, I am reminded that peace is the only path to economic development. Once a society marred by violence, the Bangsamoro region is now thriving, with businesses growing and tourism helping the economy. I am also reminded that the Philippine state should always have the courage to understand each other’s social, religious, and political needs — not just be selective.
This is the true spirit of Barmm: a place of peace, a place of hope, and a place for all Filipinos. DEF