This decade was characterized by military instability and natural calamities that affected the people’s socio-economic activity.
On
It was not just the government that helped us but also the NGOs and different sectors they gave us bundles of clothes in the same color and the same size which made us laugh.[1]
Another account of Jacinta Respicio:
Our Suki (Business partner) a Chinese in Pagadian gave us help in forms of clothing and food. Cigarette products and other commercial advertisements printed on the clothing were usually given. We were not accustomed of using it but we had no choice.[2]
The Barracuda – Ilaga Conflict
Originally, Commander Toothpick, a Tiruray tribal army was famous fighting against alleged Muslim terrorism and exploitation. It was this time that the term Ilaga was introduced into the vocabulary.[3] “Ilaga” means “rat“ but Muslims of
The physical pattern of events showed the spread of conflicts, from North Cotabato to Lanao del Sur, from Cotabato to Lanao del Norte, and from Cotabato to Zamboanga del Sur.[6] It should be noted that Tukuran is the first municipality from Lanao Sur in Illana Bay.It was second week of April at about two o’clock in the afternoon Al Mirasan Tampogao was shot to death in the shore of Tukuran at Sto. Niño, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur. This Moro was the vice-mayor of Carumatan and said to be the immediate cause of the Barracuda attacks in Tukuran.[7]Gossip haunted the people that the Moro of Carumatan will attack Tukuran in revenge to the death of the Vice-mayor.[8]The alleged assassin was an Ilaga known for its anti-Muslim sentiments[9]In May the rebels in front of the burned Municipal hall of Labangan captivated Father O’halpin, the parish priest of Tukuran, on his way back to the town, but he was released later. This related incident on rebel added the suspensions of the people that a conflict will soon come. At this time Labangan was in the hands of the Barracudas (black shirts).[10] The tension worsened when the residence of the mayor was attacked on the third week of April 1972, the day of the Molave fiesta at about
The Barracuda hostaged one of the operators of the pump boat named Michael II. Using a machine gun they went to shell depot that was their target. Seventy five meters from the shore, the 29th IB, PA had seen the coming rebels at Lambayong. But the rebels were able to penetrate the depot. The manager was killed that made his wife deliver the pre-mature baby on the spot at about
The other group of the Barracudas retreated to Luy-a where they beheaded two civilians. While the other group retreated and attacked Militar and its neighboring coastal sitios and barangay at about
On that very day, as they retreated, passing Brgy. Baclay, they ambushed the Parish Priest of Aurora, Father Paulo Kill and luckily, he survived while on his way to
The retreating force of Barracuda in Luy-a had moved to the neighboring barangay Sto.
The total Diaspora of the people had taken place after the 26th of July incident that caused the serious depopulation of the municipality. Atty. Francisco D. Boter, the municipal registrar, in his article in Pagadian Times reported:
Like a volcano that had erupted, Tukuran became a ghost town with only a handful of people roaming the streets with the mournful howling of scraggy dogs now and then disturbing the cemetery-like silence and solitude that pervaded the ones buzzing and taming residents.
Will the ones happy and prosperous people of Tukuran resume once more their active and enterprising way of life?
The Tsunami of Illana
In 1977, the wound of the Barracuda-Ilaga conflict could have started to heal but on the evening of
In 1978, right in his office, Mayor Antonio Jimenez, O.D. was arrested. An ASO or arrest on seizure order was issued against him from the national government. The remaining populace were baffled on the fate of the honorable mayor.
Fishing Industry
The unvanishing fishing industry of the town resumed its activity after the Ilaga-Barracuda conflict during late 70s.The accounts of Atty.Francisco Boter in his article in Pagadian Times:
One of the most important industries in our province is fishery. Tukuran and Pagadian City and many of the western towns have rich fishing grounds and the fish caught in Tukuran and Pagadian City are exported to Ozamiz City, Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City. The fish caught in the western towns, due to costly transportation, are either salted or dried and exported to neighboring provinces. In order to bolster the fishing industry as a source of livelihood to a greater number of the inhabitants, especially the unemployed, the following are needed (1) Establish a fishery school in Tukuran to teach the people better methods of catching and processing of fish products; (2) Establish cold storage and refrigeration plants to store excess fish products and stabilize prices; (3) Establish a canning factory; and (4) To liberalize the giving of loans to small fisherman. Tukuran is the largest fishing ground in Zamboanga del Sur. Her sea bounds in Tuna. Her fame is known throughout
The decade of 70s left three marks: first, as the years of ashes that brought destruction to Poblacion that caused severe economic breakdown of the municipality. Second, the tidal wave on
As far as History is concerned, the third quarter of the twentieth century, was the dark years of Tukuran. Meanwhile, the New People’s Army has entered into the scene while the decade was about to close.
[1] Tape interview with Mr.Godofredo Sandes Romanillos, 56 years old at his residence in Romanillos tailoring shop, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur on
R. Romanillos Interview
[2] G. Respicio Interview
[3] Mastura, Muslim Filipinos ,op.cit., p33
[4] Rodil.,The Minoritization.,op.cit., p335
[5] Ibid.p70
[6] Ibid.p50
[7] E. Rivera interview
[8]
[9] Tape interview with Mr.Rufino B. Respicio Jr, 52 years old at his residence in Respicio Rice and Corn Mill, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur on
[10] E. Rivera interview
[11] Jr. Respicio interview
[12] Pvt.Lit. Marcelino Rivera ballistic report of 29thIB,PA.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Alfredo Boncales interview
[15] Thessa Boncales interview
[16] A profile of Brgy.
[17] Pagadian Times.May 23,1977
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