1990 Mindanao crisis

1990 Mindanao crisis
Part of the 1986–90 Philippine coup attempts
Date October 4 – 6 1990 Location Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Iligan, Mindanao, Philippines Result 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	Corazon Aquino Renato de Villa
Units involved
Noble loyalists parts of the 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) 150 elite Scout Rangers (Iligan)	2 T-28 planes Undetermined number of troops
Casualties and losses
Wounded: at least 1

The 1990 Mindanao crisis begun when Col. Alexander Noble and his supporters seized two military garrisons in Cagayan de Oro and Butuan without firing a shot and proclaimed the independence of the Federal Republic of Mindanao on October 4, 1990. Noble later announced the next day that he is calling for dialogue with the Philippine government.

Government Response

Corazon Aquino urged the country's security forces to stop the rebellion initiated by Noble. The Armed Forces of the Philippines was put into red alert. Hundreds of troops were stationed near the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Phillippines in Manila due to a military report months before the rebellion warning of a coup attempt would follow an uprising in Mindanao. Troops with anti-aircraft weaponry were stationed around the military compound while troops with anti-tank weaponry and machine gun stationed within the walled compound and outside its gates. Aquino's military advisor, Mariano Adalem in a briefing for foreign diplomats that Noble's actions in Mindanao may be a distraction, and his actions in Mindanao is a regional destabilation effort leading to a coup de etat. On October 5, two T-28 planes from Mactan Air Base in Cebu bombed the occupied garrison in Butuan forcing the occupiers to evacuate the garrison.

On October 6, Noble uncoditionally surrendered to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel in Cagayan de Oro at 3:00 am. Reuben Canoy, Noble's primary civilian ally and leader of the Mindanao Independence Movement was also arrested. Noble was escorted to Manila by military officials led by Brig. Gen Arturo Enrile, superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy. Despite the arrest, Noble says that he is successful in his goal into bringing attention to the issues affecting Mindanao.

International Reaction

• United States - US ambassador Nicholas Platt said that America "strongly condemns any effort to destabilize the elected Philippine government."