From exodus to return

Samira Ali Gutoc

HERE’S the timeline of events:

December 2016: The Presidential Security Guard convoy of President Duterte experienced an armed incident entering Marawi. President Duterte visited Butig town accompanied by local leaders, and urged the Maute Group to leave the main area of the town of Butig, i.e. municipal hall it occupied. There was a change in the 103rd Brigade Command from CSO friend Roseller Murillo to Nixon Fortes.

January 2017: The Provincial Peace and Order Council tackled the Task Force against crime.

February:  There were text blasts on an attack by the Maute Group. AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año confirmed the group of terrorist Otto Maute was behind the death of two intelligence officers in Marawi City.

April:  There was a Piagapo confrontation between the Maute Group and the Armed Forces, and there were negotiations led by local governemnt for the Maute Group to leave Piagapo proper.  Clashes displaced 416 families or almost 2,000 individuals from barangays Gacap, Tapocan, and a portion of Tambo.

May, second week: There was a Tableegh assembly in Markazz, major mosque in Basak Malutlut.

May 23:  Authorities tried to serve a warrant against Hapilon resulting in an armed confrontation on the highway. The declaration of martial law was made in the evening, starting an exodus of residents from Marawi. The Crisis Management Committee in capitol led by Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong was set up, and Mayor Majul Gandamra protected city hall.

May 25: Aerial strikes started, and Ranaw CSOs called for a three-hour ceasefire for the sake of those stranded. The white flag campaign was started, and evacuation centers were set up.

May 27: Ramadhan.

June: The National Emergency Operations Center set up in Iligan City, and Ranao CSOs called on the President to dialogue with Sultans and leaders.

June 9:  The Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Lanao del Sur came out with a statement that “it has not closed its eyes on any forms of abuses committed in the implementation [of martial law] thereof.”

June 15:  An Australian journalist is reported hit by a stray bullet.

June 20:  President visited evacuees at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buru-un. He said, “I would like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin. Sana sa lalong madaling panahon you’ll find it in your heart to forgive my soldiers, pati ako for declaring martial law.” The Peace Corridor with the MILF was set up to rescue the stranded.

June 25: Eidul Fitr congregations were tears because of the celebration away from Marawi City.

July 22: A joint hearing of Senate and the Lower House on the martial law extension was held. Majority voted to extend it, including most of Mindanao congressmen.

July 24:  The President delivered a State of the Nation Address in Congress. The evacuees’ march was aborted after Cabinet secretaries went to Iligan to dialogue with Meranao leaders. Task Force Bangon Marawi was organized. It was announced that temporary shelters would be set up in Sagonsongan. The tent city was opposed by some sectors. Mindanao lawmakers attended the Marawi Post-Conflict Reconstruction : Engaging Civil Society on Trajectory of Peace and Prosperity at Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

Aug. 8-9: “Bakwits” and CSOs convened in Iligan City, called for inclusivity in TFBM and Marawi crisis management.

Aug. 22: It was back to school for 8,000 students of the Mindanao State University; it was the first day of the first semester of school year 2017-2018 at the MSU main campus in Marawi.

Aug. 31: Eidul Adha, Feast of Sacrifice.

Sept. 3: There was Walk for Peace by the Iligan city government and CSOs.

Sept. 3 and 7: Stray bullets hit a professor and a Civil Service Commission-Armm executive, respectively, at MSU.

Sept 11: The President, Army officials and Communications assistant secretary Mocha Unson entered the biggest mosque in Marawi City.

Sept. 16: Marawi Vicar General Fr. Chito Soganub was released after 117 days in captivity.

Oct. 16: Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were declared dead.

Oct. 17: Task Force Bangon Marawi sent out post-conflict needs assessment  teams composed of various national and local government agencies in 24 barangays in Marawi City. The President declared the “liberation” of Marawi.

Oct. 22: “The fight is over in Marawi City,” military officials declared after 153 days of fighting that left at least an estimated 1,131 people dead.

(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. She is one of the organizers of the Ranao Rescue Team, a group set up to respond to the crisis.- Mindanews)