By Nora Soriño
Iligan City Bureau Chief
Frank Dosdos Jr.
and Sita Asequia
Correspondents
Iligan City — The Marawi Sultanate League in a forum expressed their gratitude to this city and other neighboring cities like Cagayan de Oro for welcoming the evacuees from their city and helping them during their trying these time.
Speaking to media on Saturday, League Chairman Emeritus Sultan Monching Macabando said the gesture of support that the Iliganons have rendered to the evacuees from Marawi is a manifestation that the people of Iligan and Marawi are one.
He said when Iligan became in city in 1950 it was a part of one Lanao as the province was not yet divided and the people were predominantly Maranaos.
He said the early Iliganons were descendants of the Maranao known as “Mama sa Wato” (Man from Wato, Balindong) who came down to Iligan early in history, converted to Christianity and multiplied by the thousands.
“Today, the cities of Iligan and Marawi are natural partners especially in economic and development undertakings,” he said.
Sultan Monsing Macabano, Marinaut Sultan, admitted their city was caught flat-footed when the Maute Group attacked on May 23.
Another sultan, Sultan Camid Gandamra said during those first crucial hours when the lawless groups attacked, they did not leave their city hall since it was “the symbol of government.”
They left only when it was already prudent for the officials to do so. Gandamra is the city administrator and the father of city mayor Majul Gandamra.
“(We) condemn in the strongest terms the heinous devastating battle perpetrated by lawless armed groups most of whom are coming from other areas in Mindanao and abroad,” the league’s statement reads.
Sultans Nasser Sampaco, Datu Lacsaman Ampuan, H. Abdulasis S. Cali, Anwar M. Pangarungan, Sultan Yusoph Maugoda, Sultan Abdullah N. Mamao are some members of the League. Sultan Nasser Disomangcop Sampaco, Sultan of Maamor of Dansalan is now the chair of the league.
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