Ilaga
The Ilagâ (Ilonggo Land Grabbers Association, acronym spelled out of ilaga, Ilonggo for rat) is a Christian extremist paramilitary group based in southern Philippines. The group is predominantly composed of Ilonggos, embracing a form of Folk Catholicism that utilizes amulets and violence.
| Ilonggo Land Grabbers Association (Ilaga) | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Feliciano Luces, Sr |
| Leaders | Norberto Manero, Jr. (formerly) |
| Dates of operation | January 1, 1967–1979 2008–present (re-formed as 'New Ilaga') |
| Split to | Red God's Defenders |
| Headquarters | North Cotabato |
| Active regions | Mindanao, Philippines |
| Ideology | Folk Catholicism Christian nationalism Christian fundamentalism Traditional Catholicism Islamophobia |
| Opponents | Moro National Liberation Front (until 1979) Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters Abu Sayyaf |
| Battles and wars | Moro conflict |
The group complemented the Philippine Constabulary as a militia force during the 1970s in southern Mindanao while fighting against Moro guerrillas during the Moro insurgency in the Philippines.
The predominantly Hiligaynon-speaking migrants (from Panay Islands) in the province of Cotabato organized a private army called the Ilaga (Visayan for rat). To counter the terror of Ilaga attacks on Muslim civilians, members of the Moro elite organized their own heavily armed groups — the Blackshirts in Cotabato, and the Barracudas in Lanao — who responded in kind.
From 1970 to 1971 Ilaga launched a series of 21 massacres that left 518 people dead, 184 injured, and 243 houses burned down. The group committed one of its bloodiest acts with the Manili massacre on June 19, 1971, when the group killed 70–79 Moro civilians (women, children and elders) inside a mosque.