On Tuesday, 40 years after the massacre of 34 young Muslim men who trained to become soldiers, Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman sought a closure to the investigation to determine what really happened on March 18, 1968.

Hataman said the House of Representivates and Senate that initiated separate investigations into the incident that also stirred RP-Malaysia diplomatic relations failed to ferret out the truth into the carnage that was allegedly perpetrated by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Jiben Arula, the lone survivor of the massacre, said he no longer wants another investigation that might open a new round of controversies.

Arula resurfaced to attend the ceremonies commemorating the bloodbath that occurred at the Kindley airstrip here.

Recounting his ordeal and showing reporters the scar of a bullet wound he sustained in his escape, Arula appeared not convinced that the truth will ever come out.

He said even the actual number of dead Muslims who were trained for "Operation: Merdeka," an alleged Philippine military plot to forcibly take over the contested Sabah territory, could not be ascertained.

Arula, Hataman, and other Muslim leaders led over 200 Filipinos in commemorating the martyrdom of Jabidah (beautiful lady) victims.

Among those present in the event were representatives from the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Mindanao Youth Caravan for Peace, and the Mindanao People’s Caucus.

Hataman urged government to take immediate steps in considering the approval of various peace proposals that have been presented in negotiating tables attended by the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.