Maranao group won’t sue gov’t for Marawi destruction

COTABATO CITY — Moro lawyers yesterday clarified that the Bangsa Maranao Congress (BMC) is not poised to sue the Philippine government and the military for the destruction of Marawi City due to bombings.

“I did not make any pronouncement about such intent… The executive council (of the BMC) has yet to make a formal resolution (out of the two-day gathering),” lawyer Ferdausi “Ching” Abbas told the Bulletin in an interview by phone.

Abbas said over 400 people attended the BMC gathering in Iligan City last Saturday and Sunday, during which fellow lawyers Dalidig Sumdad and Nashrullah Conding purportedly conveyed to journalists their sentiments about seeking reprieve for the ruin of Marawi City and the dislocation of some 400,000 Marawi residents.

He believed theymight have mentioned their intent to seek a R120-billon indemnity suit in the Hague, Netherlands-based International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Philippine government and the military.

“It wasn’t me who made such a pronouncement,” said Abbas, who explained that the filing of a case before the ICC will entail herculean efforts and resources that the BMC cannot afford.

Fellow lawyer Aminoddin Macalandap, president of the Integrated Bat of the Philippines (IBP) Lanao del Sur chapter also shrugged off the proposed BMC suit against the government.

“While a legal suit is far-fetched for the BMC to come up with before the International Court, I believe it is an affront to the government-expressed intent to indemnify the damages caused in Marawi City,” Macalandap said.

He said the IBP-Lanao Sur chapter had earlier submitted an official position to Defense Secretary Defin Lorenzana seeking government indemnity on property damages brought about the more than four months of military offensives meant to rid Marawi City of Daesh-inspired militants.

“Sec. Lorenzana told us that President Duterte was amenable to providing government funds for the rehabilitation of Marawi City and its displaced residents,” Macalandap said.

Meanwhile, Macalandao said the IBP-Lanao del Sur chapter will pursue its investigation of reported lootings in many abandoned houses in Marawi City in preparation for the filing of criminal charges against the perpetrators.