Rashid Lucman

Haroun al-Rashid Lucman (June 23, 1924 - July 21, 1984)[1] was a Filipino legislator, journalist, World War II guerilla hero, and an early proponent of Moro independence or autonomy.[1] As Congressman of Lanao del Sur, he is best remembered for calling for the impeachment of Ferdinand Marcos 1968 because of the President's role in the Jabidah Massacre, in which government troops massaccred Tausug 68 Military trainees. When the congress could not muster enough support for the impeachment, Lucman grew convinced that Muslim Mindanao needed to become independent, and founded the Bangsamoro Liberation Organization (BMLO),[2] which later joined forces with the Moro National Liberation Front.[1]

Rashid Lucman
Born
Haroun al-Rashid Lucman

(1924-06-23)June 23, 1924
DiedJuly 21, 1984(1984-07-21) (aged 60)
OccupationLegislator, journalist, regional leader
TitleSultan of Bayang;
Sultan Paramount of Minsupala;
Congressman of Lanao del Sur (1961-1969)
Spouse(s)Princess Tarhata Alonto Lucman
ChildrenARMM Regional Vice Governor Haroun Alrashid Alonto Lucman Jr.
AwardsHonored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani wall of remembrance

After Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law, Lucman went into self-exile in Saudi Arabia in 1976 and worked closely with opposition Senator Ninoy Aquino to push proposals of Autonomy for the Moro people.[3] Lucman's health began to fail soon after he learned of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, and he died less than a year later in Riyadh in 1984 - two years before the establishment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under Aquino's widow President Corazon Aquino.[3]

His son, Haroun Alrashid Alonto Lucman Jr., was eventually elected as Vice Governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2013, and re-elected in 2016, holding the position up till the 2019 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite, which proposes the abolition of the ARMM in favor of a new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.[4]

World War II

Upon the outbreak of World War II in the Philippines, Lucman fought alongside the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).[5] After the surrender of US forces in the Philippines, Lucman organized the first guerrilla force in Mindanao, engaging in numerous battles against the Japanese Imperial forces.[1]

Political career

Because of his war record, Lucman was appointed deputy governor for Lanao del Sur in 1944, serving until 1949 when he left to work as correspondent for the Manila Chronicle. He returned to politics in 1953, then served as regional development officer of the Convention on National Integration at Marawi City from 1959 to 1961. In 1961 he was elected congressman of Lanao del Sur in 1961, serving until 1969.[1]

The Jabidah massacre and Lucman's calls to impeach Ferdinand Marcos
Main article: Jabidah massacre

Lucman was serving in congress on 18 March 1968, when the Jabidah massacre took place. The Marcos administration had gathered a group of Tausug recruits for an operation called "Project Merdeka" (merdeka being the Malay "freedom"). The military began training them on the island of Corregidor to form a secret commando unit called "Jabidah," which would destabilize and take over Sabah.[6] The trainees eventually rejected their mission, for reasons that are still debated by historians today. Whatever the reasons behind their objections, all but one of the recruits were killed. The survivor, Jibin Arula, escaped with a gunshot to his leg and was able to tell his story to the press.[7]

When opposition senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. came out with an exposé alleging that Marcos was ultimately culpable for Jabidah,[8] Lucman called for Congress to begin proceedings to impeach President Marcos.[1] When his proposal didn't get enough congressional support, he became convinced that Muslims should rule themselves in Muslim Mindanao - a conviction he continued to hold after the end of his term as congressman in 1969.[1]

After Congress

In 1971, he joined Senator Mamintal Tamano, Congressman Ali Dimaporo, Congressman Salipada Pendatun, University of the Philippines College of Arts and Sciences Dean Cesar Adib Majul, Delegate Ahmad Alonto, Commissioner Datu Mama Sinsuat, and Mayor Aminkadra Abubakar to form the Islamic Directorate of the Philippines. The Libyan government of Muammar Gaddafi donated funds to the Directorate to purchase land in Tandang Sora, Quezon City for the construction of a mosque.

Martial Law and self-exile

In 1972, with the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Lucman fled to the Middle East.[9]

Ninoy Aquino and Moro Autonomy discussions

In exile, Lucman developed a working relationship with Benigno Aquino, Jr., whom the opposition had looked to as a potential replacement after Ferdinand Marcos, who was very sick at the time, stepped down from the presidency. Aquino began discussiong plans for Moro Autonomy with Lucman, as an alternative to full Moro independence.[3]

In 1983, it was Lucman who helped Aquino circumventing an order from Malacañang Palace forbidding Aquino the issuance of a passport so Aquino could come home to the Philippines from exile in Boston. Lucman obtained a passport for Aquino with the alias "Marciál Bonifacio" (taken from martial law and Fort Bonifacio, where Aquino was once detained).[10]

Death

The shock Aquino's assassination took its toll on Lucman's health, and he died the following year in Riyadh. It was 1994 - two years before the establishment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under Aquino's widow President Corazon Aquino.[3]

Legacy
Section of the wall of remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City, listing the martyrs and heroes who fought against the Marcos dictatorship honored in 2006 and 2007, including Lucman.
  • his moral valor in fighting for the cause of the Muslim people in Mindanao in particular and the Filipino people in general during the dark years of the Marcos regime;
  • his courage to seek justice for the victims and survivors of the government sanctioned Jabidah Massacre;
  • his munificence to the stranded pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia using funds from the sale of his 800-hectare plantation in Katipuan, Talayan, Cotabato after the failure of negotiations to avail themselves of government help in the rescue effort;
  • his unstinting support and bravery in the nationalist cause of the Filipino people here and abroad; and
  • his being the “Father of the Islamic Resistance Movement in Mindanao."

See also

References
  1. "Martyrs & Heroes: LUCMAN, Haroun Al Rashid". Bantayog ng mga Bayani. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  2. Fallon, Joseph E. (August 1989). "Igorot and Moro National Reemergence". Fourth World Journal. 2 (1). Archived from the original on 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  3. Cal, Ben (2010-07-02). "Sultan Rashid Lucman honored as modern day hero". bayanihan.org. Archived from the original on 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  4. "Regional Vice Governor". ARMM Official Website. Archived from the original on 2017-01-14. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  5. Unson, John (2017-05-14). "Maranaws remember historic episodes on town's centennial". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  6. "Marcos order: Destabilize, take Sabah". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2 April 2000. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  7. Marites Dañguilan Vitug; Glenda M. Gloria (18 March 2013). "Jabidah and Merdeka: The inside story". Rappler. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  8. Nasser A. Marohomsalic (2001). Aristocrats of the Malay Race: A Historic of the Bangsa Moro in the Philippines. N.A. Marohomsalic.
  9. "ISLAMIC DIRECTORATE OF THE PHILIPPINES, MANUEL F. PEREA and SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION, petitioners, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and IGLESIA NI CRISTO, respondents". First Division, Supreme Court, Manila, Republic of the Philippines. 14 May 1997. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  10. Aquino, Corazon C. (21 August 2003). "The last time I saw Ninoy". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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