Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
Year founded: 1972
Founders: Nur Misuari and Hashim Salamat
Strength (Misuari’s faction): 3,000 (reports as of 2016)
Origin: The MNLF was a splinter group of the Muslim Independence Movement, later called the Mindanao Independence Movement, which was founded in 1968 to work for a separate Moro state in the southern
Philippines.
Ideology and goal: The MNLF initially sought a fully independent state for the Moros, but its leadership accepted autonomy under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.
Currently, the MNLF is divided in its aims, with some factions supporting MILF-government talks and the proposed Bangsamoro region, while other factions strongly oppose the proposal, insisting on full implementation of the 1996 agreement.
Major attacks:
Sept. 9, 2013—MNLF members entered Zamboanga City and attacked government forces and took some 300 civilian as hostages.
Oct. 10, 1977—Thirty-four military officers and soldiers, including Brig. Gen. Teodulfo Bautista, were killed in what came to be known as the Patikul massacre in Sulu province.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF)
Year founded: 1977
Founder: Hashim Salamat
Strength: 12,000
Origin: The MILF broke away from the MNLF because of ideological and political disagreements between Salamat and Misuari.
Ideology and goal: The MILF formulated a policy of gradually creating an Islamic society in the Moro regions. To accomplish this, the MILF applied Islamic law in the areas under its control and believed that the creation of an independent Moro state would eventually follow.
Major attacks:
Jan. 25, 2015—Forty-four police Special Action Force commandos were killed in fighting with MILF guerrillas and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters while pursuing two international terrorists, including the Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was reportedly killed by the policemen.
July 10, 2007—Fourteen Marines were killed, 10 of them beheaded, while on their way home from operations to rescue kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in Basilan province.
—INQUIRER RESEARCH
Sources: Stanford University and
Inquirer Archives