Govt failed to consider tradition in Marawi crisis

By FRANK DOSDOS JR.
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

ILIGAN City–The lack of understanding of the Maranao culture and traditions may have prolonged the nearly two-month crisis in Marawi City.

Maranao imams and traditional leaders pointed this out even as they called on the government to consult them.

Lawyer Nasrollah Bin Muhammad Siddiq Bacarat, a “sultan” in the Maranao tradition, said many of the problems in strife-torn Marawi now could have been addressed earlier.

Bacarat said the national and local governments have not been consulting traditional Maranao leaders in its decision-making.

He said the problem on rebellion and terrorism in the predominantly Muslim city are rooted in discontentment and misunderstanding that, traditionally, could be settled with the intervention of Marawi’s “natural leaders” based on the culture and traditions of Maranaos.

He and his group said  the imams could have also been tapped given their considerable influence.

Meanwhile, religious leaders expressed their concern over the possibility that President Duterte would extend the Mindanao martial law.

Bishop Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI)  in Cagayan de Oro told local radio that the IFI was opposed to the implementation of martial law or its extension as “this means surrendering the power of the civilians to the military.”

Calang said, “Dili kini maayo og makatarunganon ngadto sa gipili sa katawhan sa usa ka posisyon.”

He said the Mindanao martial law has already hurt businesses in Mindanao, citing losses reported by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Oro Chamber).

“Wala na’y klaro nga negosyo tungod kay limitado na ang paglihok-lihok sa matag-tawo,” he said.

Calang said the military could handle the situation in Marawi even without martial law especially if it strengthens its intelligence networking.

“The military has the capability to handle the situation normally,” he said.

Msgr. Precious Cabunoc, spokesman of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, said he doubted if an extention of martial law would bring any good.

“Dili kini maayo nga idea,” said Cabunoc, adding that the government has not shown that it has a solution to the problem on terrorism.

He said the government should instead focus on improving the economic conditions in problematic areas and rid the country of corruption.

“Iyang i-martial law ang iyang mga kauban because the country still losses [its money] to corruption,” he said.