Why is there war in Mindanao?
To answer that question, I'd have to go way back. Ready?
In the1960's, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos envisioned of getting Sabah Malaysia (south of Mindanao) back by hostile take over, Ferdinand Marcos knew (as a former soldier himself) for this to happen he would need soldiers not listed in the Philippine Regular army, The plan involved the recruitment of nearly 200 Tausug and Sama Muslims aged 18 to 30 from Sulu Province and Tawi-Tawi and their training in the island-town of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi. Simunul was where the Arab missionary Makhdum built the first mosque in the Philippines in the 13th century. The recruits felt giddy about the promise not only of a monthly allowance, but also over the prospect of eventually becoming a member of an elite unit in the Philippine Armed Forces. From August to December 1967, the young recruits underwent training in Simunul. The name of the commando unit was Jabidah.
On 30 December 1967, 135 to 180 recruits boarded a Philippine Navy vessel for the island of Corregidor in Luzon for "specialized training."
This second phase of the training turned mutinous when the recruits discovered their true mission. It struck the recruits that the plan would mean not only fighting their brother Muslims in Sabah, but also possibly killing their own Tausug and Sama relatives living there. Additionally, the recruits had already begun to feel disgruntled over the non-payment of the promised monthly stipen
Then the "unfortunate" indecent.
There was a survivor in the Jabidah Massacre, and he asked for help from Senator Benigno Aquino, later Sen.Aquino revealed to the world about "Operation Mardeka" and the Jabidah Massacre, unfortunately there were Filipino spies in Sabah Malaysia and their covers were blown, they were hunted down by Malsyan military and police, other Filipinos who lived in Sabah were also massacred.
This lead to formation of Moro National Liberation Front, and later became the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,.. "allegedly" the Malaysian Government funded the insurgency in Mindanao to keep the Philippines busy.
Then time went by.... and this story was forgotten.
My grandfather was one of the spies in Sabah Malaysia, he survived because his girlfriend hid him in a refrigerator, he escaped to the Philippines. In 1982 he was abducted by soldiers, never to be seen again. Maybe to tie loose ends, I don't know but before he disappeared he told his story to my grandmother many times.