Ilaga

{{Short description|Filipino Christian extremist paramilitary group}}

{{Infobox war faction

| name = Ilaga

| image =

| logo = Christian flag.svg

| caption =

| active = January 1, 1967–1979
2008–present (re-formed as 'New Ilaga')

| founder = Feliciano Luces, Sr{{cite web |url=https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft0199n64c&chunk.id=d0e2338&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d0e2319&brand=ucpress |title=UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004 |accessdate=2022-12-29 }}

| leaders = Norberto Manero, Jr. (formerly)

| split_to = Red God's Defenders

| headquarters = North Cotabato

| area = Mindanao, Philippines

| ideology = Folk Catholicism
Christian nationalism
Christian fundamentalism
Traditional Catholicism
Islamophobia

| allies =

| opponents = {{flagicon image|MNLF flag.svg}} Moro National Liberation Front (until 1979)
{{flagicon|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}} Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters

{{flagicon|Islamic State}} Maute Group

{{flagicon|Islamic State}} Abu Sayyaf

| url =

| status =

}}

The Ilagâ (acronym for Ilonggo Land Grabbers Association) is a Christian extremist{{cite web|title=Christian militia kills five Muslims in Philippines|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/908795/christian-militia-kills-five-muslims-in-philippines|publisher=Dawn|access-date=21 March 2017|date=3 November 2008}} paramilitary group based in southern Philippines. The group is predominantly composed of Ilonggos,{{cite web|url=https://rigobertotiglao.com/2019/01/05/only-three-scenarios-for-the-communist-insurgency/|title=Only Three Scenarios for the Communist Insurgency|last=Dikit Tiglao|first=Rigoberto|newspaper=Manila Times|date=2019-01-05}} embracing a form of Folk Catholicism that utilizes amulets and violence.

The group was founded in 1970, in a gathering in a restaurant in Cotabato City by the then leading politicians in Central Mindanao, Nicolas Dequiña the Mayor of Midsayap and his political peers, Mayor Wenceslao Dela Cerna of Alamada, Pacifico Dela Cerna of Libungan, Bonifacio Tejada of Mlang, Conrado Lemana of Tulunan, Jose Escribano of Tacurong, and Esteban Doruelo of Pigcawayan. This group is led by Feleciano Luces or better known as Commander Toothpick.

The group complemented the Philippine Constabulary as a militia force during the 1970s in southern Mindanao while fighting against Moro guerrillas during the Moro insurgency in the Philippines.{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/09/28/1239187/anti-moro-group-resurfaces-ncotabato|title=Anti-Moro group resurfaces in NCotabato|work=philstar.com|access-date=26 January 2015}}

The predominantly Hiligaynon-speaking migrants (from Panay Islands) in the province of Cotabato organized a private army called the Ilaga (Visayan for rat). To counter the terror of Ilaga attacks on Muslim civilians, members of the Moro elite organized their own heavily armed groups — the Blackshirts in Cotabato, and the Barracudas in Lanao — who responded in kind.{{cite web|url=https://www.c-r.org/accord/philippines%E2%80%93mindanao/mindanao-land-promise-1999 |title=Mindanao: Land of promise (1999) | Conciliation Resources }}

From 1970 to 1971 Ilaga launched a series of 21 massacres that left 518 people dead, 184 injured, and 243 houses burned down.{{Cite news|url=http://pcij.org/blog/2015/02/13/mindanao-a-memory-of-massacres|title=Mindanao: A memory of massacres|date=2015-02-13|work=The PCIJ Blog|access-date=2018-03-10|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303043903/http://pcij.org/blog/2015/02/13/mindanao-a-memory-of-massacres|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}} The group committed one of its bloodiest acts with the Manili massacre on June 19, 1971, when the group killed 70{{cite web | last =Mariveles | first =Julius D. | title =Mindanao: A memory of massacres | url =http://pcij.org/blog/2015/02/13/mindanao-a-memory-of-massacres | access-date =23 May 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160303043903/http://pcij.org/blog/2015/02/13/mindanao-a-memory-of-massacres | archive-date =3 March 2016 | url-status =dead }}–79 Moro civilians (women, children and elders) inside a mosque.{{Cite web | url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EC06Ae03.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030409193141/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EC06Ae03.html | url-status=unfit | archive-date=April 9, 2003 | title=The evolution of Philippine Muslim insurgency | author=Marco Garrido | work=Asia Times Online | date=March 6, 2003 | access-date=September 14, 2008}}

Background

The Mindanao region is rich in natural resources, including large quantities of mineral reserves. The American colonial government and subsequently the Philippine government pursued a policy of migration by resettling significant numbers of Christian Filipino settlers from the Visayas and Luzon onto tracts of land in Mindanao, beginning in the 1920s. This policy allowed Christian Filipinos to outnumber both the Moro and Lumad populations by the 1970s, which was a contributing factor in aggravating grievances between the Moro and Filipino Christian settlers as disputes over land increased. Another grievance by the Moro people is the extraction of Mindanao's natural resources by the central government whilst many Moros continued to live in poverty.[http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ccpv/assets/docs/CCPV%20-%20The%20Bangsamoro%20Struggle%20for%20Self-Determination%20-%20A%20Case%20Study%20-%20By%20Caecilia%20Noble.pdf The Bangsamoro Struggle for Self-Determintation: A Case Study]

The Ilaga originated as an anti-ranchero resistance collective in Upi led by Commander Toothpick (Feliciano Luces),{{cite web |url=https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft0199n64c&chunk.id=d0e2338&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d0e2319&brand=ucpress |title=UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004 |accessdate=2022-12-29 }} formed by Hiligaynon-speakers and Teduray natives specifically to defend against "a political clan of known Marcos cronies".{{cite web|first=Amir|date=2016-06-27|url=https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/137701-manili-massacre-remember/|magazine=Rappler|last=Mawallil|title=Manili Massacre: Don't Look Back in Anger}} The group gained legendary status and its members hailed as folk heroes after having prevailed over the security personnel of said "oppressive landed family" during an armed encounter, using nothing but mêlée weapons and homemade firearms. State security forces would eventually encourage Hiligaynon-speaking settlers from Iloilo and Panay Island who had emigrated to Mindanao to grow the militia, but hereafter coopted for a completely different purpose. There is anecdotal evidence that the Ilaga often committed human rights abuses by targeting the Moro and Lumad peoples, as well as attempting to seize additional territory. The end result of Ilaga extremism is the lingering animosity between Moro and Christian communities. Mistrust and a cycle of violence are still felt today due to the creation of the Ilaga.

History

From March 1970 to January 1972, the Ilaga committed 22 massacres resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Muslim civilians (mostly women, children and elders). The group is guilty of "mutilating bodies of victims" and "marking bodies with a Christian cross|cross." The group also burned down and looted many houses and properties.{{cite book|last1=Majul|first1=Cesar Adib|title=The Contemporary Muslim Movement in the Philippines|date=2015|publisher=BookBaby|isbn=9781483555584|page=50|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0d5eDQAAQBAJ|access-date=23 October 2017}}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

=Manili massacre=

Violence attributed to the Ilaga reached its climax on June 19, 1971 with the Manili massacre of 70-79{{cite news | last =Arguillas | first =Carolyn O. | title =De Lima: "Oooops, sorry, it's Ampatuan Massacre not Maguindanao Massacre | publisher =MindaNews | date =28 January 2010 | url =http://minda2010.timonera.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7546:-de-lima-oooops-sorry-its-ampatuan-massacre-not-maguindanao-massacre&catid=3:news&Itemid=50 | access-date =23 May 2016 | archive-date =4 March 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063533/http://minda2010.timonera.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7546:-de-lima-oooops-sorry-its-ampatuan-massacre-not-maguindanao-massacre&catid=3:news&Itemid=50 | url-status =dead }} Moro Maguindanaon Civilians (women, children and elders) in a mosque in Manili, Carmen, North Cotabato.{{cite book | last =Larousse | first =William | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=qyo-Hti0-KAC&q=manili+massacre&pg=PA136 | title = A Local Church Living for Dialogue: Muslim-Christian Relations in Mindanao-Sulu, Philippines 1965-2000| publisher =Gregorian Biblical BookShop | year =2001 | pages =136 | isbn =8876528792 }} The Muslim residents of the town had gathered in their mosque to participate in a supposed peace talk with Christian groups when a group of armed men dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by members of the Philippine Constabulary opened fire on them.

=1971 Battle of Lanao del Norte=

Following the massacre at Manili, many Maranao Muslims civilians fled to take shelter in the Lanao del Norte. Some Muslims formed small militant groups to counter the Ilaga. One such group was called the "Barracudas" and in September 1971, the Barracudas clashed with the Ilagas resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people on both sides of the conflict. The Ilagas also clashed with the Philippine Constabulary. The skirmishes continued until October, and over 60 Muslim houses were torched by the Ilaga.{{cite book|last1=Ediger|first1=Max|title=The Struggle in Mindanao|date=September 2001|publisher=Documentation for Action Groups in Asia|location=Matina Davao City, Philippines|page=14|url=http://www.daga.org.hk/dd/d2001/d109ph.pdf}}Robert, B. McAmis, "Muslim Filipinos 1970-1972," Solidarity 8, No. 2, February 1973, p. 7.

=Murder of Tullio Favali=

Tullio Favali was a member of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), an all-male international group of priests who are dedicated to evangelization in underdeveloped and non-Christian nations. Favali was assigned to do missions work in the Philippines, particularly in provinces in Mindanao. He arrived in the Philippines in 1983, and was ordained as the parish priest of La Esperanza in Tulunan, North Cotabato.

On April 11, 1985, Favali was called by townspeople for help after the Manero brothers shot the town's tailor.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bantayog.org/favali-tullio/|title=FAVALI, Tullio|date=2015-10-15|work=Bantayog ng mga Bayani|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}} When the Manero brothers saw him arrive and enter a house, Norberto Jr. dragged his motorcycle and set it on fire. When Favali hurried out after seeing the fire, Edilberto threatened the priest before shooting him pointblank in the head, he then trampled on the fallen priest's body and fired again. This caused the priest's skull to crack open, and Norberto Jr. picked the brains and displayed them to the horrified witnesses. The brothers, along with a few other gang members, stood by laughing and heckling.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/78008/news/backgrounder-on-norberto-manero-jr/|title=Backgrounder on Norberto Manero, Jr.|date=2008-01-25|website=GMA News Online|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-03}}

The Manero brothers and five others were found guilty of murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment. The court also found Norberto Jr. guilty of arson.

Noeberto Manero, Jr., however, would later be pardoned.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-31593320080125|title=Philippines frees notorious priest killer|date=January 28, 2008|accessdate=May 10, 2021|publisher=Reuters|first=Manny|last=Mogato|language=en-US}}

=Post-2008 resurgence=

Increased tensions in the Philippines since 2008 have since seen the re-emergence of the armed vigilante group{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080829-157470/New-Ilaga-revives-fears-of-Mindanao-in-70s|title=New Ilaga revives fears of Mindanao in '70s|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107233548/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080829-157470/New-Ilaga-revives-fears-of-Mindanao-in-70s|archive-date=7 January 2009|access-date=26 January 2015|url-status=dead}} http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/153307109-commander-max-stands-with-his-group-ilaga-a-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QTpIrPwH16Bce0Gp83jTSVeIm4OGW2CKESx0ucvtWWoG {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924074501/http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/153307109-commander-max-stands-with-his-group-ilaga-a-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QTpIrPwH16Bce0Gp83jTSVeIm4OGW2CKESx0ucvtWWoG |date=2016-09-24 }} http://nimg.sulekha.com/others/original700/2008-8-27-7-35-43-b3b9c446bc224beb90e3c8e3c21ecdc0-b3b9c446bc224beb90e3c8e3c21ecdc0-2.jpg{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} calling themselves the Bag-ong Ilaga (Visayan: New Ilaga).[http://www.bulatlat.com/news/5-12/5-12-vigilante.htm “2 New Vigilante Groups Surface in Mindanao”] by Cheryll D. Fiel, Bulatlat Alipato Publications, retrieved September 14, 2008 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.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302274.html?nav=rss_world “In Philippines, Abandoned Deal Reignites Rebel War”] by Blaine Harden, Washington Post, retrieved September 14, 2008[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20081109205522/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/mindanao-civilians-under-threat-from-milf-units-and-militias-20080822 “Mindanao civilians under threat from MILF units and militias”] Amnesty International August 22, 2008, retrieved September 14, 2008

In November 2008, the Ilaga killed five unarmed Muslim civilians in an ambush in Lanao del Norte.

In 2012, two members of the group committed robbery and also murdered two civilians. They were then arrested.{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/region/2012/03/17/787655/inopacan-cops-nab-2-ilaga-gang-members|title=Inopacan cops nab 2 Ilaga Gang|website=philstar.com|access-date=2018-04-13}}

In 2016, a splinter group of the Ilaga emerged, the Red God's Defenders.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080912233008/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080901-157955/Ilaga-revival-to-make-things-worse--Piol “Ilaga revival to make things worse – Piñol”] Philippine Daily Inquirer, retrieved September 14, 2008

Category:Factions of the Moro conflict

Category:Paramilitary organizations based in the Philippines

Category:Hiligaynon people

Category:Folk Catholicism

Category:Christian terrorism in Asia

Category:Christian fascists

Category:Catholicism and far-right politics

Category:Persecution of Muslims by Christians

Category:Violence against Muslims in Asia

Category:Religiously motivated violence in the Philippines