Mindanao

Conflict in the
Philippines
HOW THE MORO WENT FROM CIVILIANS TO
TERRORISTS

Location and Demographics

Major Ethnic Groups of the

Major Religious Groups of the
Philippines:
Philippines:
Tagalog, 28.1%
Catholic, 80%
Cebuano, 13.1%
Other Christian Denominations, 10%
Ilocano, 9%
Islam, 5%
Bisaya, 7.6%
Other, 5%
Hiligaynon, 7.5%
Bikol, 6%
Waray, 3.4%
Other, 25.3%

History
Major Events in the History of the Moro

Muslim
traders
first
arrive

1380

Spanish
Conquer the
Philippines

1521

Magellan
lands in the
Philippines
for the first
time

1542

MNLF signed
peace
agreement
with the
government

Philippine
Islands
are ceded
to the
U.S.

1898

Philippine
Islands are
ceded to
the U.S.

1941

1968

Jahbidah
Massacre

1996

Ethnic Conflict

The major ethnic conflicts in the Philippines are between three different
Muslim groups that spans three different time periods. The first ethnic
conflict was during the colonial period of the Philippines (1542-1898)
between the Spanish and the Moro Sultanates (Muslim). The next
major ethnic conflict happened when the U.S.A ruled over the
Philippines (1898-1946) between the American soldiers and the Moro
(Muslim). The third major ethnic conflict happened between 1969 and
present day and was between the Philippine government and three
Muslim, terrorist groups: the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Abu Sayyaf. These terrorist
groups were involved in terrorism such as kidnapping, bombings, and
violence. The Philippines suffered with the displacement of civilians
from the violence and also the economic damage of having to rebuild
after the bombings and the loss of tourism.

Current Status

The Philippines typically have used the military to fight against the terrorist
groups which did little to stop the violence. Currently the Philippine
government is in peace talks with MILF. MNLF signed a peace agreement in
1996 with the government of the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf is still carrying out
terrorists acts and have publicly pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State
of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Other countries view the Philippines as an unstable country because of the

history of violence and terrorism.

Currently other Asian countries are trying to help broker a peace deal
between the Philippine government and terrorist.

While both sides do not seem to be right, the Moro Muslims are approaching
the conflict the wrong way with terrorism and kidnappings.

Both sides need to work with other countries to form a peace treaty that will
stop the violence, and the Moros will gain more respect from the
government.

While efforts are trying to be made to resolve the conflict, we do not

realistically think that the conflict will be resolved in the near future.

Works Cited

"Abu Sayyaf and US and Australian military intervention in the southern Philippines."Nautilus
Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. <http://nautilus.org/apsnet/abu-sayyaf-and-us-andaustralian-military-intervention-in-the-southern-philippines/>.

BBC. "Guide to the Philippines conflict."BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-17038024>.

Britannica. "Moro Wars."Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

<http://www.britannica.com/event/Moro-Wars>.

France-Presse, Agence. "Key moments in the history of Moro insurgency."Inquirer. N.p., n.d.
Web. 19 Nov. 2015. <http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/589751/key-moments-in-the-history-of-moroinsurgency>.

"Mindanao."Seasite. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

<http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Modules/Modules/MuslimMindanao/Mindanao-Landfs.htm>.

Philippine History. "Timeline of Philippine History."Philippine History. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov.
2015. <http://www.philippine-history.org/timeline.htm>.

"Philippines Population 2015."WPR. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

<http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/philippines-population/>.

"Timeline: Moro history in the southern Philippines."abs-cbn news. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/27/14/timeline-moro-history-southernphilippines>.