Happy or sad for Hapilon?

Samira Ali Gutoc

ILIGAN City–Lyndee of Initiatives for International Dialogue in Manila recalled a prayer moment early June of the siege when so many dead littered the streets. A travel mission of civil society from all over came to locked-down and no-entry Marawi for a prayer at the Campo Ranaw.

We should pray today, too. Early today, as of this writing, 149 personnel of the Office of the Civil Defense in their base in Iligan are entering Marawi, some for the very first time, to conduct a post-conflict assessment, a requisite to make the budget for Marawi’s rehabilitation.

I was supposed to attend a Department of Health meeting at Mahogany Hills’ Task Force Marawi headquarters at 8:45 am. I was lucky to catch them in the 10 vans with Col. Mamon rushing to his vehicle. He shared that 17 more people have been rescued without telling me yet about the big news of the death of the two leaders. I did not know yet until later.

We pray for the soldiers and thank them for the rescue of the hostages, and innallilahirajiun for all the dead. We later saw in many chatrooms photos of the faces of Hapilon and Omar. Mindanews asked for reactions, and we called for the continuing addressing of the roots of terrorism.

There were mixed reactions, some were celebrating around meals. I was able to chat, too, there at Mahogany Hills, with the head of the Civil Military Relations, Col. Polog, about their efforts to streamline safety passes. He showed me the smooth and fast releasing behind him.

He updated me that former Lanao-based brigade commander Roseller Murillo has now assumed the command of Tabak Infantry, covering Marawi up to Zamboanga Peninsula. He assumed so quickly, he said,. We, his partners, were not able to attend his Marawi assumption. Many CSOs would have wanted to see him.

With the Deped National Director of Disaster’s representative, assistant superintendent Chique, and her team, I was able to sit at their meeting to prepare their entry to Marawi to assess damage of schools, take photos, list down the books, number of chairs, etc. Superintendent Amin tells me there are 149 schools to be checked and 22 not to be entered in the war zone covering Raya Madaya towards the market.

Imams were awaiting their safety pass so I got to chat with them as well on their moral recovery contribution in the whole rehabilitation process. They are assigned nine barangays in Marawi, mashaallah, a positive sign of returning back some normalcy for mosques to recite the adzan amidst all the cadavers and dead. This is a shoutout to government, i.e. Department of Social Welfare and Development, to support imams and ulama in their drive to heal the grieving and suffering population. (And thanks to the Task Force Bangon Marawi secretariat for the banana cue.)

Councilors of Lumba Bayabao coescuer Anwar Galo Lamping and his co-super heroes (as they go grassroots there) and lady barangay chairpersons were huddled in Robinsons. We are updated on the depleting relief aid and the need for a shoutout regarding the Rorogagus route to facilitate mobility.

Anwar was thankful for medical rescuers of Ranao Rescue Team addressing their needs. There continues to be only two ambulances available to many Meranaos, so here is a shout of a big “thank you” and appreciation to Assemblyman Fiat Macarambon.

Happy birthday, too, to Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, the workhorse and spokesperson, inspiring light and partner in this whole crisis.

Sultan Camid Gandamra, father of Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra, was also in another huddle with sultans and we updated on some Iligan City patients transferring and being assisted by rescuers towards Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City. We thanked him and the city, particularly the mayor and the TFBM, for sponsorship of the electric bills of schools hosting evacuees like Moneerah Integrated School.

(Samira Ali Gutoc-Tomawis, Ll.B., co-founder of the Young Moro Professionals resigned as Commissioner of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission in late May, days after the Marawi Crisis started, citing personal reasons and policy questions. Samira is one of the organizers of the Ranao Rescue Team, a group set up to respond to the crisis.)