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| Assemblyman Amenodin U. Sumagayan giving his Privilege Speech last August 7, 2017 |
As-Salam-u-Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi
Wa-Barakatuh!
Mr. Speaker, I wish to put on record
my views regarding the ongoing battle or siege in the Islamic City of Marawi.
On May 23rd, nearly three months then, a contingent of roughly
300 local terrorist or ISIS from Maute Group in coordination with the Abu Sayyaf
Group and other rebel fighters were engaged in a firefight with the Armed
Forces of the Philippines in the City of Marawi that resulted to the latter,
holding some government facilities. This tragic incident resulted in over
hundreds of civilians killed including those who died on illness and hundreds
of thousands evacuated and have been displaced Mr. Speaker. The siege caught us
off-guard and it has continued to haunt us even until now. As a Filipino
citizen and a native Meranao, I am greatly disheartened by this troubling
matter as I have witnessed first-hand what had happened to our beloved city. We
did not wish for this to happen, and we also did not deem it to last this long.
The past months is just too much for the people of Marawi to bear. We have all
fallen victims by these terror acts and I am deeply saddened to see my fellow
Maranaos and Christians as they flee with distressed minds and troubled hearts.
This is, by any means, the most unprecedented terrorist attack in the Islamic
City of Marawi and the whole country. These terrorists have vandalized what our
beautiful city stands for. I believe we’ve been terribly shocked and saddened by
this happening considering that this befell on our city during the Holy Month
of Ramadan. What do these terrorists hope to achieve? An Islamic State? If so,
did they even consider some other measures rather than extremism and instilling
fear to the people? How can Islam, a Religion that promotes peace, be a vessel
of terror? This should be condemned in its strongest possible terms Mr.
Speaker. In the eyes of GOD and our Penal Laws, they should be answerable. This
time I am of the opinion that Death Penalty should be restored.
It’s just ironic and unacceptable
that these terrorists used Islam as an excuse for them to do such destructive attack.
It is really sad to note that many have perished and lost so much in this
worthless efforts to uplift extremist ideologies! In addition to massive
collateral damage to properties in billions of pesos, an estimated amount of
another billions of pesos worth of personal properties and money had been
looted all over the city. This terrorist act has taken a great toll for the
people of Marawi, they are the real victims of this fruitless war.
Mr. Speaker, My fellow colleagues, so
much with these damages that I had just mentioned which are all capable of pecuniary
estimation, what is really heartbreaking is the suffering/hardship that our disgruntled
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are experiencing as a result of this non-sense
ideology or extremism. Even until now
the situation of our brothers and sisters (IDPs) had never been easy although
most of them have been provided with relief items. They continue to worry about their homes and properties
left in Marawi, especially now that news of LOOTING AND BURNING of houses have
been circling around. Nobody knows what will be the fate of these IDPs after
the Marawi Crisis. Some of them are now
in the different cities all over the country and even in Metro Manila bringing
with them there pride of being a Meranao trying to start a new biography. We
all know that the government is taking care of these IDPs but, still it isn’t
enough. The government and other private donors should study carefully on how they
can sustain the relief operations for these IDPs for the next succeeding
months.
With
respect to the looting and burning of houses incidents Mr. Speaker, these
criminal acts happened in those cleared areas in the city, these areas are
likewise secured by our AFP and PNP personnel. This is a very big question, Mr.
Speaker. While we continue to assure our IDPs that everything will soon be all
right, it is still beyond our control for them to think of the worst that could
happen. Even though this has happened to us, we are still hopeful that we’ll
have something to return to in Marawi. We are appealing to our AFP and the PNP personnel
deployed in the province of Lanao del Sur to faithfully do their duties in
accordance with the law. Even though the Martial Law declaration of President
Duterte has been extended in the Island of Mindanao, may the Constitution and
Human Rights be upheld at all times Mr. Speaker.
Personally Mr. Speaker, I was a
victim of these unscrupulous AFP and PNP personnel violating their mandate and
disregard my rights as a citizen of this country. In one incident Mr. Speaker,
while on my way to the Provincial Capitol to attend an urgent meeting with the City
Mayor and the provincial Vice Governor, I was plugged down for almost an hour by
a group of police personnel from RPSB-ARMM, assigned in Barangay Matampay,
despite my introduction that I am an Assemblyman of the district where the city
of Marawi belongs, Mr. Speaker. When I asked her the reason why should I not be
allowed to pass, she replied to me in a very disrespectful manner that it is an
order from their superiors that everybody entering Marawi City should be
treated as an enemy and therefore should not be allowed to enter during that
time. The worst thing Mr. Speaker is while my car was parked and I was communicating
with the Provincial Capitol, I saw at least 3 civilian cars that were randomly
allowed to enter. Second incident Mr. Speaker, while on our way from Taraka with
my wife, the Mayor, in a military checkpoint in the municipality of Madalum,
these men in uniform suddenly opened our doors without even asking first our
permission and without even asking who the passengers are and didn’t even care
to ask regarding our itinerary. We all know Mr. Speaker that without a search
warrant the so called “plain view” doctrine should be observed in checkpoints
even during Martial Law. Even during the Suspension of the Privilege of the Writ
of Habeas Corpus, the rules on warrantless searches or arrest should also be
strictly observed, with the exception of those accused of crimes of rebellion
or crimes related to or connected to invasion Mr. Speaker. Although, there are
really some men in uniform who sometimes exceeded their mandate, I personally
believe Mr. Speaker that in total our AFP and PNP personnel who fought against
these terrorist deserve commendation for the bravery they have shown.
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| The 9th RLA on the start of the Second Regular Session last August 7, 2017 |
Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, in
order for us to be more informed of the causes of this tragedy and in aid of
legislation, I urge the proper committees of this assembly to call for a thorough
investigation on these pressing issues that I have mentioned. While this
representation is fully aware of the state of Martial Law in Mindanao, as
legislator responsible for the well-being of our constituents I believe that we
have the right to ask legitimate questions over this matter. How did this ongoing
battle in the city started? How did these terror group entered the City of
Marawi? What preventive measures were taken by our government troops before
this terror attack? What is the present condition of our IDPs in the different
evacuation centers? Who is responsible for these looting and burning of houses
in the cleared and secured areas in the city? Is the staging of this war that
destroyed Marawi City the only solution to neutralize these terrorist? These
are some of the questions that need reliable answers my dear colleagues. This way, we can also extend assistance thru counteractive
legislations that would help strengthen the government’s measures on public
safety and order.
Lastly Mr. Speaker, may this tragedy
be a reminder to all of us that even in our darkest moments, we will stand
strong and resilient. Let us be more vigilant in standing against terror. Let
us continue to hope for the better in achieving the lasting peace that we have
been attempting to grasp for so long. The people of Marawi are resilient
people, but they need our help to start building Marawi again as a better place
to live in. Now, as we continue to support the efforts of the government in
suppressing or ending terrorism, we should also be mindful that the rights, liberty
and property of our constituents would not be trampled. Also, I would like to
ask all of you to continue to stand with us – the people of Marawi – in these
times of need and perhaps help Marawi City recuperate from the damage it went
through. I am calling my fellow Meranaos and our Filipino brothers and sisters,
let us come together and help build a new Marawi. This is not the time to give
up, instead this is a time to stay strong and be optimistic that the almighty
ALLAH (S.W.T.) is indeed COMPASSIONATE. Even a simple act of prayer for the evacuees
and the city itself would be of great significance. Mr. Speaker, my fellow
colleagues, Marawi City is the oldest and most populated in our region and in
fact the supposed seat of the ARMM Government. What happened in the city is
already a global issue and therefore deserves a total rehabilitation or
development with an international standard. Hence, I urge this Assembly to heed
to this call, and may ALLAH (S.W.T.) help us overcome this trial. Wassalam.
P.S. This speech was presented before the members and guests of the 9th RLA Second Regular Session last August 7, 2017
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