Ilaga
Filipino Christian extremist paramilitary group / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Ilaga?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Ilagâ (Ilonggo Land Grabbers Association, acronym spelled out of ilaga, Ilonggo for rat[2]) is a Christian extremist[3][4] paramilitary group based in southern Philippines. The group is predominantly composed of Ilonggos,[5] embracing a form of Folk Catholicism that utilizes amulets and violence.
Ilonggo Land Grabbers Association (Ilaga) | |
---|---|
Founder | Feliciano Luces, Sr[1] |
Leaders | Norberto Manero, Jr. (formerly) |
Dates of operation | January 1, 1967–1979 2008–present (re-formed as 'New Ilaga') |
Split to | Red God's Defenders |
Headquarters | North Cotabato |
Active regions | Mindanao, Philippines |
Ideology | Folk Catholicism Christian nationalism Christian fundamentalism Traditional Catholicism Islamophobia |
Opponents | Moro National Liberation Front (until 1979) Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters Abu Sayyaf |
Battles and wars | Moro conflict |
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.[6]
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.[7]
From 1970 to 1971 Ilaga launched a series of 21 massacres that left 518 people dead, 184 injured, and 243 houses burned down.[8] The group committed one of its bloodiest acts with the Manili massacre on June 19, 1971, when the group killed 70[2]–79[9] Moro civilians (women, children and elders) inside a mosque.[10]