Pacquiao reminds Mindanaons: Never forget Jabidah Massacre

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental —Presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday reminded his fellow Mindanaons not to forget the Jabidah Massacre during the the Marcos era.

"Nire-remind ko naman palagi 'yung mga taga-Mindanao, hindi lang naman mga brother na Muslim, marami ring Kristiyano, huwag nilang kalimutan 'yon dahil pilit nilang binabaon sa limot ang nakaraan na ginawa ng pamilya nila," Pacquiao said in a media briefing here before conducting a motorcade and a grand rally to woo the residents of Negros Oriental.

Pacquiao made the statement when reporters pressed him for comments on the purported growing support for presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Mindanao.

(I always remind those from Mindanao, not only my brother Muslims but also Christians to never forget the Jabidah massacre because they seem to forget the past atrocities the late Ferdinand Marcos administration.)

"Itong mga bagong henerasyon ngayon, huwag nilang kalimutan na ilang buhay din ang nawala" (The present generation must not forget the lives that were lost), Pacquiao added.

The Jabidah Massacre occurred on March 18, 1968, when several Moro fighters from the provinces of Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi were reportedly killed by their military handlers on Corregidor.

It is largely believed as one of the causes of the Moro insurgency in the Philippines.

It then led to the creation of autonomous entities in Muslim Mindanao, said Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod.

The Marcos camp has yet to make a comment on the issue as GMA News Online requested. —LBG, GMA News