Marawi ‘welcomes’ returning residents
MARAWI CITY- - Around 1,167 families or some 7,002 individuals have returned to their respective homes here, after almost six months of living either in evacuation centers or with their relatives outside Marawi City.
The crisis in this predominantly Muslim city that escalated into a full-blown war began when the military raided the house where Abu Sayaff leader and anointed ‘emir’ of ISIS in Asia, Isnilon Hapilon has rented.
This displaced thousands of families from Marawi City and Lanao del Sur driving them into the different parts of the region.
The returning families are from the four barangays: Bacolod Chico, Toros, Lumbac A Toros and Tuca, which is called Polo area by residents.
The Polo area’s barangays are situated along Lake Lanao with Bacolod Chico as its socalled entry point.
This is where armed men, believed to be from Butig, Lanao del Sur, onboard motor boats have docked, two weeks before the Johor or the religious assembly of Tabligh in the nearby Masjid Abubacar, according to a resident in said area.
It was reported that a number of foreign fighters, who disguised as Tabligh, have joined the religious group in a bid to position in the area which is close to the house where Hapilon had been renting then.
Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Task Group Ranao, had confirmed this report.
Residents in Polo were supposed to return last Saturday but was momentarily cancelled, owing to security reason.
According to Brawner, there are ‘ sigthings’ in the area that prompted the military to cancel the return of the residents today and tomorrow, November 21.
Residents of Dayawan, Pindolonan, Amito Marantao and Poona Marantao are scheduled to return home today, November 21.
“There are certain reasons na hindi natin pwedeng sabihin in public kaya minabuti natin na i-recommend sa Task Force Bangon Marawi na i-delay ng konti ang kanilang pagbabalik,” Brawner said.
Johaila Ismael, chairman of Barangay Bacolod Chico, confirmed that 100 percent of her constituents have already returned home amid transportation woes.
Although there are two families that could not return yet because their houses were burned, Ismael said their relatives living nearby have come to their rescue and the local government is helping them on their needs.
“Kinulang ang mga sasakyan na hinanda ng city government kaya kami nalang sa barangay ang naghanap kasi gustong-gusto na talaga ng mga residente na makabalik,” Ismael said.
The International Committee on the Red Cross ( ICRC) also put up water bladders for them to have potable water to drink.
Ismael said the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO) also makes an effort to reconnect power connections to houses for free.
“Pero problema namin, ang libre na reconnection ay iyon lang may mga metrohan. Ang walang metrohan, magbabayad ang mga residente. Saan sila kukuha ng pambayad? Kung kami naman sa barangay ang sasagot, hindi kakayanin,” Ismael said.
A good number of policemen were assigned in the area, but Ismael has this to say: “Sana bukas (November 21) madagdagan ang security kasi release ng ‘pabaon’ at ng 5 thousand pesos na galing sa DSWD.”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will give the returning residents a sack of rice, food packs and the 5 thousand pesos cash as promised by President Duterte. Some residents received initially 1 thousand pesos as the remaining 4 thousand pesos will be released upon their return.
Sainollah Baute, a public school teacher, said he was both happy and sad that his family had finally returned home in Baranay Tuca upon seeing all their things in complete mess and their important belongings are gone.
“Wala na kaming magawa, we have to move on. Matatagalan pero makakabangon din kami. Ang importante, nandito na kami sa sarili naming bahay, hindi na kami mangungupahan,” Baute said.
Baute, who has two children, has to spend 6 thousand pesos every month for his rented house in Iligan City during the siege.
“Maliit lang sweldo ko bilang teacher, tapos kuhanan pa ng pang-renta ng bahay.”
Now that they’re already back in Marawi, Baute has another fervent wish that the water and power supply would soon be restored for them to enjoy a little.