Marawi folk alarmed over rise of crime vs women, children

ILIGAN CITY – The local folk here has expressed alarm over the series of killings and kidnappings of their fellow Maranaols in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur.

This was the sentiment that was prevalent at the recent launch of M’ranao Siyap, a anti-crime group, at the Celadon Hotel in Pala-o here.

M’ranao Siyap spokesperson Abuali Abbas said the movement was intended to secure the local folk from extrajudicial killings and kidnappings, especially if these are committed against woman and children.

"Hindi kasi usual na target nung crimes of killings sa amin dito sa Iligan at sa amin sa Marawi City ay iyong mga babae", he said.

Abbas said it was more disturbing that the rise in the incidence of crime against women and children came when martial law was already being enforced in Mindanao.

"So, masyado kaming naa-alarm inspite of the existing Martial Law nangyayari pa ito, suppose to be medyo lessen iyong krimen", Abbas said.

Another M’ranao Siyap member Sittie Almairah Lomondot of Ranao Youth for Peace and Development, gathered incidents report on the alarming crimes of murder, rape, kidnapping/attempted abduction and hold-up.

She said victims were afraid to report to authorities for fear that the suspects will come to them again "Natatakot lang sila lumabas baka balikan sila ng gumawa sa kanila", Lomondot said.

She underscored that one of the group’s advocacy was to encourage the victims to speak up.

"We still have to do awareness program to convince them to blotter for legal purposes para umusad din iyong kaso,” Lomondot said.

She disclosed that, since June, 20 cases of attempted kidnapping of women and children have been reported.

She likewise said that tinted vans have been going around Marawi and Lanao del Sur, stopping to snatch children by the roadside.

"The suspects were onboard a tinted van with no covering on their faces, usually may kasmang babae na nagsusu-ot ng veil pero ang structure niya ay lalaki", said Lomondot.

She also cited the case of a member of the administrative staff of the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi who went missing, only to be discovered last June 20 at a hotel in Iligan City with her hands handcuffed and her head almost severed from her body. She was also reportedly raped.