1990 Mindanao crisis

1990 Mindanao crisis
Part of the 1986–90 Philippine coup attempts
Proposed flag of the Federal Republic of Mindanao
Date October 4–6 1990 Location Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Iligan, Mindanao, Philippines Result Government victory Disestablishment of the Federal Republic of Mindanao Arrest of Col. Alexander Noble
Belligerents
Federal Republic of Mindanao	Aquino Government
Commanders and leaders
Col. Alexander Noble Reuben Canoy	Corazon Aquino Renato de Villa
Units involved
Noble loyalists parts of the Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division	Armed Forces of the Philippines
Strength
about 800–1150 200 troops (Cagayan de Oro) 600 civilian supporters (Cagayan de Oro) 200 troops (Butuan) [1] 150 elite Scout Rangers (Iligan) [2]	2 T-28 planes Undetermined number of troops
Casualties and losses
1 killed, at least 1 wounded [1]

The 1990 Mindanao crisis was a revolt that occurred in parts of the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. The crisis began when Col. Alexander Noble, a dissident Philippine Army officer linked to the 1989 Philippine coup attempt against President Corazon Aquino, and his supporters seized two military garrisons in Cagayan de Oro and Butuan without firing a shot and unilaterally proclaimed the independence of the Federal Republic of Mindanao on October 4, 1990, to be led by a civilian-military junta and with an ultimate goal of removing Aquino from office. However, he failed to gain support, and surrendered two days later following attacks by government forces. ^[3] The revolt was the last overt attempt to overthrow Aquino's government until the end of her term in 1992.

Background

Noble

Alexander Noble was a Philippine Army officer who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1969. ^[4] Subsequently reaching his highest rank of colonel, he served as commander of the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Agusan del Sur from 1980 to 1985, where he organized and trained tribal warriors against the communist New People's Army, ^[5] and was even baptized as a datu by the Higaonon tribe. ^[6]

Role in the 1989 coup attempt

During the presidency of Corazon Aquino, he served as deputy commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and helped defend Malacañang Palace during a coup attempt in 1987 launched by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) by Col. Gringo Honasan. However, after leaving the unit and returning to Agusan del Sur, he later switched sides and supported RAM in its failed attempt to topple President Aquino in December 1989.

During the preparations leading to the 1989 coup, he went around Mindanao, establishing connections and support among disgruntled military officers and separatist politicians such as former Cagayan de Oro mayor Reuben Canoy and organizations such as Canoy's Mindanao Independence Movement and the Mindanao Freedom Movement. The latter movement was composed of landowners who were opponents of President Aquino's Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and was promised protection by Noble in its plans to declare Mindanao's independence upon the success of the coup. He also provided RAM with details of Aquino's security arrangements from his service in the PSG, which was put into use when RAM planes bombed Malacañang on 2 December. However, Aquino was unharmed as the plans had been revised after Noble's departure. ^[7] Noble later admitted his willingness to kill Aquino "if necessary" should she decide to seek refuge in the U.S. Embassy. ^[8] During that time, Noble was believed to have received funds from loggers in the region. ^[9]

On his way to Manila to join the coup, he was apprehended at a checkpoint in Santa Rita, Samar but escaped shortly afterwards with the help of sympathetic officers, ^[10] leaving behind weapons, cash and documents that linked RAM and what Noble referred to as the “Armed Forces of Mindanao”. ^[7] Following the failure of the coup, Noble went into hiding in the jungles of Agusan del Sur, ^[10] where he was sheltered by local tribespeople, ^[11] and amassed a following of about 500 military followers from two infantry units that had been chasing him, ^[12] as well as about 300 Higaonon tribesmen whom he had trained personally. While in hiding, Noble announced his support for Mindanao's secessionist movement. ^[10]

Preparations for the revolt

After the 1989 coup, RAM devised a new strategy which it called the "enclave concept", in which rebellions would be staged in isolated pockets in the countryside in order to scatter and weaken government resources for a final takeover. During a Senate hearing, the head of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, General Rodolfo Canieso, said that Noble was in charge of the plan, codenamed "Phase III", which was to divide the country by forming a junta in the Visayas and Mindanao. ^[8]

Events

Seizure of Bases

The revolt began shortly after midnight on 4 October, when about 400 men of the 53rd Infantry Battalion took over the headquarters of the 402nd Infantry Brigade in Butuan, Agusan del Norte without resistance ^[10] and captured the camp's commander, Colonel Hercules Galon. ^[11] Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Renato de Villa initially said that the rebels were led by two officers he identified only as a "Maj. Cerdeno" and "Lt. Batac" before intelligence sources identified Noble as its leader. ^[10]

Following the takeover, Noble led a column of troops and military vehicles towards Cagayan de Oro. They waved red, blue and green flags representing an independent Mindanao and were met by Reuben Canoy and around 1,500 civilian supporters of the Mindanao Independence Movement. ^[10] They paraded around the city with and were greeted by around 3,000 residents before seizing Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Mindanao´s second largest military camp ^[11] and headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division, whose commander, Brig. Gen. Miguel Sol, escaped to Manila. ^[12] The rebels met no resistance while pro-government troops barricaded themselves inside their barracks behind barbed wire defenses. The rebels subsequently cut communications between Manila and the areas they controlled and distributed leaflets declaring that the "war for the liberation of Mindanao" had started. ^[10]

In Iligan, 100 kilometers west of Cagayan de Oro, about 150 members of an elite army Scout Ranger unit reportedly declared support for Noble but did not become involved in the rebellion. Two hours later, government warplanes strafed rebel troops advancing on an army camp near Iligan, ^[10] while T-28 fighter bombers knocked out a rebel Sikorsky helicopter over the camp. ^[11]

Government response

President Aquino urged the country's security forces to stop the rebellion. The Armed Forces of the Philippines was put into red alert. Hundreds of troops were stationed near its headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo to bolster security. ^[3] During that time, a bomb placed in a parked jeepney inside the camp exploded, injuring one, while another detonated near government buildings in Manila. ^[13] All flights to and from Mindanao were cancelled. ^[10]

On October 5, two T-28 planes from Mactan Air Base in Cebu bombed the occupied garrison in Butuan forcing the rebels to evacuate the garrison. ^[1] On their way to another sortie against a rebel helicopter in Cagayan de Oro, one of the planes developed engine failure and crashed in Cebu, killing its pilot, who was the only fatality during the crisis. ^[13]

Resolution

After realizing that his position was weakening, on October 6, Noble unconditionally surrendered to Senator and former city Mayor Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in Cagayan de Oro at 3:00 am along with his classmate in the Philippine Military Academy, Col. Victor Erfe, who was also implicated in previous coup attempts. ^[13] Canoy, along with former mayor Constantino Jaraula, was arrested at a hotel and detained inside a small container van at the back of the Misamis Oriental provincial capitol. ^[14]

About 240 rebel solders surrendered or were arrested. ^[13] Noble and Erfe were escorted to Manila by military officials led by Brig. Gen Arturo Enrile, superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy and detained at Camp Aguinaldo. Despite his arrest, Noble said that he was successful in his goal into bringing attention to the issues affecting Mindanao. ^{[2] [15]}

Analysis and reactions

According to De Villa and Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos, Noble was promised by and counted on support from army supporters, communist guerrillas and Moslem separatists, only to be abandoned once he launched his revolt. ^{[13] [12]} De Villa also said that Noble was operating together with the RAM leadership. ^[16] President Aquino's military advisor, Mariano Adalem, said that the revolt was a possible distraction and a regional destabilization effort leading to a coup d'etat. ^{[1] [17]} One of Noble's comrades subsequently admitted that the revolt was "premature and haphazardly done". ^[8]

US ambassador Nicholas Platt said that the United States strongly condemned "any effort to destabilize the elected Philippine government." ^[3] , while congressional leaders threatened to block aid to the Philippines should a military regime seize power. ^[10] Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin called the rebel leaders "misguided and misled members of the citizenry." ^[11]

Aftermath

Noble was placed on court-martial and jailed until 1993, when he successfully applied for an amnesty presented to RAM members and other coup participants by President Fidel Ramos. In 1995, he ran for Governor of Agusan del Sur but lost by a wide margin ^[8] to the incumbent, Democrito Plaza.

Despite government prosecutors presenting minted money and passports of the Federal Republic of Mindanao as evidence, both Canoy and Jaraula were later released, with Canoy continuing to advocate for independence, and later, for more autonomous and federal powers for Mindanao until his death in 2022 at the age of 93. ^[14]

References

1. "Philippine government bombs rebel camp". Reading Eagle. October 5, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
2. "Leader of Filipino rebels arrested after coup fails". The Pittsburgh Press. October 6, 1990. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
3. "Filipino mutineers strikes two cities, proclaims independence". The Southeast Missourian. October 5, 1990. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
4. "The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: VI: The Failed December 1989 Coup: Who?". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 3 October 1990. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
5. "Insurgency rooted in inequality, not ideology: Ex-Army official". Philippine News Agency. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
6. "Reasons why Higaonons have high vax rate". agusandelsur.gov. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
7. "The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: V: The Failed December 1989 Coup: Pre-Coup Events and Battle Zone Narratives". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 3 October 1990. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
8. McCoy, Alfred. Closer than Brothers: Manhood at the Philippine Military Academy. Anvil Publishing.
9. "The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: VII: Causes, Analysis, and Recommendations". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 3 October 1990. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
10. Yabes, Criselda (4 October 1990). "PHILIPPINE TROOPS LAUNCH REBELLION ON MINDANAO ISLAND". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
11. "RENEGADE OFFICER LEADS ´INDEPENDENT MINDANAO´ REVOLT". UCA News. 4 October 1990. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
12. Branigin, William (7 October 1990). "LEADER OF REBELLION FLOWN TO MANILA AND JAILED". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
13. "Aquino orders court martial of rebel leader". UPI. 6 October 1990. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
14. "Former assemblyman and mayor Reuben Canoy dies at 93". MindaNews. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
15. "Renegade Filipino colonel surrenders". The Tuscaloosa News. October 6, 1990. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
16. Wudunn, Sheryl (6 October 1990). "Rebel Leader Surrenders in Philippines". New York Times. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
17. "Philippine Mutineers Seize 2 Southern Cities : Insurrection: The army rebels, challenging Aquino, say they will declare Mindanao an independent state". Los Angeles Times. October 4, 1990. Retrieved March 19, 2014.