1948 Moro-Filipino War (World of Sultans)

The 1948 Moro-Filipino War or the First Moro-Filipino War (Filipino: Labanan ng mga Moro at Pilipino, Malay: Pertempuran Moro-Filipina, Spanish: Guerra Moro-Filipino) was fought between the Second Philippine Republic and the newly-independent Moroland Republic.

The Moros and Filipinos have been at odds with each other, after a temporary unity fighting the Japanese and Korean forces in World War II. In 1945, the Moros were hugely angered by the United States' decision to incorporate Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago in a predominantly-Catholic Philippine state. This led to the Philippine Partition, in which the United States divided the 7,107 islands into two independant countries: the Philippines from Luzon to Visayas (including Palawan), and Moroland from Mindanao to the Sulu Archipelago.

Salipada Pendatun, the president of the Moroland Republic showed public satisfaction with the deal, however the Moros were secretly still dissatisfied, feeling that the exclusion of Palawan, Cebu and Bohol were amiss in their quest for an independant state. In 1947, the transition was complete, the United States withdrew military personnel from Moroland, but kept a light presence in the Philippines due to Philippine government request.

In 1948, Salipada Pendatun declared war against the Philippines, and sent forces to attack Palawan and southern Visayas. Moro forces bombed churches, and carried out massacres during Sunday masses in Cebu City and Iloilo City. However with American aid, the Philippine forces ended up defeating the Moros.

In the end, no territorial changes were made, and both Moroland and the Philippines retained their respective 1946 Philippine Partition borders.