Target Filipino Muslims Non-fatal injuries 17 Start date June 19, 1971 Attack type Mass shooting | Deaths 70-75 Perpetrators Ilaga Suspected perpetrator Philippine Constabulary Weapons Handgun, Grenade | |
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Suspected perpetrators Philippine Constabulary Motive Revenge killing in retaliation for purported killing of Christians in earlier incidents Location Carmen, Cotabato, Philippines Similar 2014 Bukidnon bus bomb, Rizal Day bombings, Escalante massacre, Plaza Miranda bombing, 2003 Marriott Hotel bo | ||
The Manili massacre refers to the mass murder of 70-75 Moro Muslims, including women and children, committed in a mosque in Manili, Carmen, North Cotabato, Philippines on June 19, 1971. At least one other source puts the number of fatalities at 79. The Muslim residents of the town had gathered in their mosque to participate in a supposed peace talk with Christian groups when a group of armed men dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by members of the Philippine Constabulary opened fire on them.
It was suspected that the Ilaga militant group were the attack's perpetrators, but there were also allegations that the Philippine Constabulary had collaborated with the Ilaga. No one was found culpable for the incident; Feliciano Lucas, also known as "Commander Toothpick", the Ilaga leader who was the prime suspect in the crime, was released after he "surrendered" to Ferdinand Marcos at the Malacañang Palace. The incident resulted in increased hostilities between Moro Muslims and Christians. In response to the incident, former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi provided military aid to the secessionist group Moro National Liberation Front.