Reminiscing The Marawi Siege

By Rexiel Cal

Hapilon and Maute’s five-month reign of terrorism in the southern Philippines ended when a bullet to the chest killed the Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, one of the reported leader of Islamic State also known as ISIS in the Southeast Asia, midst of October 16. Another bullet through head killed a highly educated Islamic scholar who wanted an Islamic sovereignty in the Philippines, Omar Maute. On October 23, defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana proclaimed that the sporadic fightings in Marawi is now under control – The war is over.
Marawi, known as center for trade and culture in Southern Philippines begins to face hard challenges early of 2017. This predominately Muslim city of 200,000 people had been the site for the urban battle between ISIL fighters and government forces on the 23rd of May leaving at least 1000 dead people in the area at the end of the siege.
War begins on May 23 of 2017 when government forces clashed with armed forces from two dominant ISIL-affiliated groups known as Abu Sayyaf and the Maute. Siege was provoked when the government forces tried to arrest top ISIL leader Isnilon Hapilon in their safe house called Basak Malutlut.
This botched raid had been strategic for the ISIL fighters to invade the city and recruit members from the locals. Fighters from ISIL attacked the strategic points of Marawi City and waved their black flags declaring the city a new caliphate of ISIL or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, also known as ISIS.
To show their domination in the city, ISIL fighters burned down the Catholic Church, the city jail and even school before occupying the bridges and main streets of the city. Catholic residents had been taken as hostages and a police officer was beheaded according to reports on the start of the siege.
On the night of May 23rd, President Rodrigo Duterte who was in Moscow to meet the Russian President Vladimir Putin, declared martial law in Mindanao citing the attack as possibly rebellion.
In the early days of the war government advised residents to locked indoors until troops arrive thinking that the battle is still controllable. But as the fighting continues, many escaped for their lives. Over the past five-months of terrorism in the city at least 200,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes and stay in the evacuation centers designated by the government.
The challenge of the Marawi residents didn’t end after reaching the evacuation center. The center is not prepared for the number of evacuees they have to accommodate. Residents are unable to return home and continue to suffer from dehydration, infections and waterborne diseases. Basic sanitation, food and medical supplies are limited giving an extra challenge for both the government and the residents.
A lot of reports came out on how government forces fight for the Marawi City and the locals in the area, how the residents fight for their lives on the middle of the siege and how media risked their lives to give information in the midst of exchange of fire bullets of ISIL fighters and the government forces.
One of the stories of heroism was published in an article when the ARMM Vice Governor Norodin Alonto tried to hide numerous of his Christian friends in his house. Alonto is a Lucman in the city which is a traditional religious leader that the fighters wanted on their side. He refused offers of food even they are already out of supply just to make sure that the fighter will not be able to find out that he was hiding Christians inside.
They waited for the government forces to rescue them which didn’t arrive. One day, with the fear that the fighters might know what he is hiding inside that may cause to kill them, Vice governor led his Christian friend and other civilians, they bravely marched out for their lives and they survived.
Government forces were surprised with the skills and weapons of these ISIL fighters. They had a hard time battling with these fighters since ISIL fighters seem like prepared for this battle. Some reports say that these ISIL fighters have soldiers who are children and are more aggressive and skillful during the war. Reports also say that fighters from other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia helped ISIL fighters giving more people and weapons for the fighters.
With the support from the government and the help of other countries, government forces dominated the battle. On October 16, government troops marched a hideout which killed both Hapilon and Maute. The next day President Duterte declared the city “liberated” even there are still patchy fighting around the city.
Seven days after the killing of Hapilon and Maute and exactly 5 months after the start of the siege, Defense minister Delfin Lorenzana announced that there is no more militants in the city after the government forces overpowered the remaining ISIL fighters.
Government soldiers are still looking for the three sons of Isnilon Hapilon who are believed to be capable of building their own troops to continue that battle that their father had started.
This battle in Marawi had been the longest siege by the armed fighters in the Philippines which resulted to the deaths of 920 fighters, 165 government soldiers and at least 45 civilians. This is the longest and most probably one of the bloodiest siege in the country after the world war II.
And now, it has been one year after the darkest days of Marawi City, establishments are still down, houses remained destroyed and the whole city remains haunted for the residents.
The whole island of Mindanao, where Marawi is located, stayed under martial law until the end of 2018 and group led by mostly government forces are in charge of rehabilitation plans in Marawi which according to reports promised to complete the reconstruction plans by 2020, the same year when Duterte is expected to step out the office.
Right groups in the city said on a report that government must be transparent when it comes to their rehabilitation plans for the city. They had been appealing for government to be more inclusive on their plans but it seems like their appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
According to reports government is planning to build a military camp in the heart of Marawi City that would cost them an estimation of $4million but the residents had been appealing for this plan. As per them (the residents), instead of using this millions of dollar in building that camp why not just use it in rehabilitation of the City.
ISIL fighters robbed, burned businesses and destroyed homes during the siege but evidently, the airstrikes made by the government forces destroyed much of the city.
There is also a growing discontent among evacuees with the effort of the government in rehabilitation of the city. Reports also say that many are worried of more bloodletting revenge and recriminations. They fear that Mautes might come back; they fear that the war is not quite over.