Maranaos protest delays in Marawi rehabilitation
MARAWI CITY: Thousands of Maranao Muslims displaced by last year’s Marawi war demanded Tuesday that they be immediately allowed to return to their destroyed homes, a year after the Islamic State-led siege left more than 1,200 people dead.
Dubbed “Anyare Marawi” (a short Maranao version for “What happened Marawi?), local leaders took turns criticizing the government for its slow response and lack of understanding of the needs of the displaced Maranao residents.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi liberated a year ago following a five-month war against the local Islamic State group who attacked Marawi in May last year, engaging the security forces in fierce running gun battles, and prevented the military advance by holding dozens of hostages the Maute group used as human shields.
Drieza Abato-Lininding, a displaced Marawi resident who led the Bangsamoro National Movement for Peace said, “One year since it was touted that Marawi has been liberated, we do not feel any liberation.”
“One year since we were promised the rebuilding of our homes and yet we still live in tent cities and temporary shelters, living off the overspent generosity of our relatives until now,” he said.
He said the government had assured them that plans were being made for their return to the city, although the government has yet to present concrete plans.
Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), the government arm leading the rehabilitation process, had previously announced it would begin reconstruction of the city’s most affected area (MAA) in late August.
The agency confirmed that the city’s full rehabilitation would be completed by December 2021.
Bashari Latiph, a local leader, said: “Boracay is even better. Boracay will open soon. We, when are we going to go home? They cannot fulfill their promises. We are not begging for relief. What we need is their (government leaders) understanding that we need to go back to our homes. Are there still terrorists in Ground Zero? Let’s not call it Ground Zero. The war in Marawi was an overkill. The government should take responsibility for it.”
The protesters cited the susbtantial foreign aid received for Marawi rehabilitation — from Australia, Japan, China, Thailand, the European Union, and the United States.
TFBM had presented blueprints, although choosing the consortium that would lead the rehabilitation had recently come into delays. One consortium that was backed by a Chinese developer was disqualified in June after authorities determined that it did not have the funds to complete the project.
The government selection committee is consolidating its due diligence on another Chinese-led group, the Power Construction Corp. of China or PowerChina.
Task force head Eduardo del Rosario on Tuesday appealed for the public’s patience. The ceremonial groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the 24 villages within a 250-hectare area hardest hit in the fighting is set for this month, he said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that at least 65,000 Marawi residents remain displaced, either staying with their relatives or in evacuation centers and in transitional shelters
Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy military chief of the Joint Task Force Ranao (JTFR), said there were still many unexploded ordnances in the area, making it dangerous for residents to check their homes.
But Marawi can now be considered one of the safest city in the country, since a large portion of the city remains under tight military control, he said.
“We believe the terrorists have already left the city. However, we are not resting and are making sure the city is indeed safe because of the martial law implementation,” said Brawner.
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