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(SDN) July 31, 2023 — On July 28, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) held its General Assembly in Jolo, Sulu, attracting from 50,000 to 100,000 warm bodies.
UBJP President Ahod Balawag “Al-Haj Murad” Ebrahim, Executive Vice President Mohagher M. Iqbal, Secretary General Abdulrauf Macacua, and other party officials and members sailed flew to the island province, receiving a warm welcome from the Tausug people.
“I am happy to be here in Sulu with our Tausug brothers for the General Assembly of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party or UBJP. Our assembly today is a huge success for all of us. For the inclusive government we are establishing, we are one with you in our goal of promoting a better life for the Bangsamoro,” Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ebrahim tells the crowd in his speech rendered in Filipino.
Iqbal, education minister of the BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), on the other hand, walked back the Moro people’s war against colonizers, chief among them, the Spanish conquistadors.
He cited the courage and bravery of the Tausug people during the nearly 400 years Moro Wars versus the Spanish crown who colonized the country.
Iqbal portrayed the people of Sulu as the bravest compared to the 12 other Moro tribes, saying the Maguindanaons and Maranaos were only second in bravery. He particularly mentioned “Parang Sabil”, a suicidal act of bravery against the Spanish soldiers, which gave rise to the term “Juramentado”.
It should be noted that “Juramentado” is from the Spanish word “jurar” which means “to swear an oath” and had nothing to with the Filipino word “huramentado”, the meaning of which is “one who runs amok”.
The UBJP vice president for Central Mindanao, Iqbal continued his recall of the Tausugs’ martial prowess, saying this carried on during the time of the Moro-American history, which followed the Spanish colonization of the archipelago, then not named “Philippines”.
“In the encounter between the Moros (notably the Tausugs) and the Americans,” Iqbal told the enthralled attendees hearing their history from a Maguindanaon, “the Americans said, ‘the only good Moro is a dead Moro, because he will fight until he is dead.”
The UBJP official, the chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the Americans had to invent the .45 caliber pistol because their Krag Jørgensen rifles were not able to stop the Tausug Juramentado. Invented by two Norwegians in the late 19th century by Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen, the gun was a repeating bolt-action rifle (per Wikipedia).
Just a little back track in history: If you are still not aware what a “Juramentado” was, well, it was the Tausugs’ last resort against the conquistadors. “Juramentado” warriors armed only with their kris charged at Spanish soldiers determined to kill as many enemies as they can. And they did not die easily despite being hit by multiple bullets. Before they swore an oath to perform “Juramentado”, they were cleaned, cleansed, bathed, and their bodies tied tightly by religious leaders. They were ready to die.
Iqbal described Sulu as a province rich in history, including being the first to receive and accept Islam in 1380 on Simunul island, then part of the Sultanate of Sulu. He acknowledged that Islam came later to Cotabato as the Islamic religion arrived only in mainland Mindanao in 1475.
He also mentioned the establishment of the Sultanate of Sulu as an integral part of the history of the Bangsamoro until it reached mainland Mindanao.
Iqbal lays down UBJP’s platform and goals
The UBJP executive mentions three things, including the party’s foremost objective: first, the holding of a provincial assembly in the province; second, introduction and explanation of the UBJP’s goals and, third, discussion of the current of the BARMM.
Iqbal said the assembly served as an opportunity to even more flesh out the UBJP’s platform and discuss issues affecting the region.
He commended the active participation of the thousands of Tausug people in the assembly as he thanked the leaders behind the activity, also thanking Allah for their overwhelming support.
In relation with this, he said through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that implemented the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which he described as the product of a huge sacrifice, “not a simple gift from the government.”
The UBJP, pointed out, is also intensely hoping for a fair election, orderly delivery of services to the Bangsamoro people, the citizens’ empowerment, and upholding Moral Governance which gives justice to every aspect of life.
“We discuss our platform and let the people vote freely and count their vote. In election, I always say, win or lose, the important thing is what comes out is the will of the people,” Iqbal said.
He also gave emphasis on the UBJP’s goal of ensuring genuine autonomy through a democratic process, instead of going to war.
“People’s empowerment, what it means is giving strength to the citizens, not an individual, not a family because what is important here is who is the brightest and most competent, who is honest, and who is the people’s choice should be the one to lead,” Iqbal said.
The UBJP is one of the eight regional parties expected to field candidates in the scheduled May 2025 parliamentary political exercise. (♡)
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Source: Bangsamoro Today/BMN