Untold Story

By Robert A. Fulton

In the late 1960s, waiting for a flight out of Zamboanga airport on the island of Mindanao, I was approached by a grizzled and somewhat scary looking old Moro gentleman. A colorful and garrulous fellow, he regaled me with tales of his time as a guerrilla warrior in World War II fighting the Japanese. At one point, he pulled up his shirt and pant legs to show me the many bullet wounds he had sustained, more than half a dozen. When I marveled at his ability to survive such damage, he proudly boasted in broken English, “Well you know, we were the people your Army had to invent the .45 automatic for!” Nowadays whenever anyone hears I have
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The Juramentados and the Development of the Colt .45 caliber Model 1911

By Perry Gil S. Mallari

Among the most repeated stories within Filipino martial arts circles is how the fanatical Muslim warriors of Mindanao affected the development of the Colt .45 caliber Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol.

Robert A. Fulton, in his research paper titled “The Legend of the Colt .45 Semi-Automatic Pistol and the Moros,” explained that while the Moros were indeed the reason for the development of a handgun with more stopping power than the .38 caliber revolver, the Colt .45 caliber Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol in actuality was not used in the Americans’ campaigns in Mindanao during the turn of the 20th century. Continue reading →

By Mel Sta. Maria

Atty. Mel Sta. Maria is a professor at the Ateneo School of Law. He is the resident legal analyst of News5 on TV5.

Sabah is Philippine territory. We must assert our claim. The ancient 1878 lease contract must end.

In 1704, the Sultan of Brunei gave the sovereignty of Northern Borneo, now called Sabah, to the Sultan of Sulu in gratitude for the latter’s assistance in quelling a widespread rebellion in Brunei. In January 22, 1878, the Sultan of Sulu entered into a contract bestowing rights to Gustavus Baron de Overbeck and Alfred Dent over Sabah. The latter later formed the British North Borneo Company (BNBC) which was granted a charter by the British Government Continue reading →

By Marites Dañguilan Vitug and Glenda M. Gloria

(Editor’s note: On March 18, 1968 – exactly 45 years ago today – at least 23 Muslim trainees were shot to death on Corregidor Island in what has since been known as the Jabidah massacre. Below is a summary of “In the name of honor?,” the chapter on the Philippine government’s clandestine operation to invade Sabah written by Marites Dañguilan Vitug and Glenda M. Gloria in their book “Under the Crescent Moon: Rebellion in Mindanao,” which was first published in 2000.)

MANILA, Philippines – As it was a special government operation, details of Oplan Merdeka were known only to Continue reading →

By Salvador H. Laurel
Former Vice President of the Philippines
Chairman, National Centennial Commission
Manila Bulletin
Tues., Oct. 21, 1997

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the House Committee on Good Government are now conducting separate investigations on “Operation Big Bird,” a cloak and dagger operation undertaken eleven years ago to bring back the alleged “hidden wealth” of Ferdinand Marcos. The investigations were called in response to President Ramos’ request for specific congressional authority to settle the Marcos issue once and for all.

Mr. Ramos was quick to add that the hidden wealth issue could have been resolved earlier by the Cory administration.

I can attest to that. Weak and already on his deathbed when I visited him in Hawaii on February 3, 1989, Marcos personally asked me to Continue reading →