NINI CABAERO:
Cabaero examines the incident that triggered the Marawi crisis that led to the implementation of martial law in Mindanao. Based on reports, a team of military and police personnel were supposed to serve a warrant of ar- rest against Isnilon Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf commander who reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014. What a government spokeman described as a “surgical operation” resulted in the burning of government facilities, schools and a church by members of the Maute group, who also took several civilians hostage, including a priest. Maybe the US$5-million bounty on Hapilon had something to do with it.
An analysis of the Marawi crisis and the implementation of martial law in Mindanao would have to begin with the incident that triggered it all.
Government reports said the crisis began when a team of military and police personnel went to Marawi to serve a warrant of arrest on Isnilon Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf commander who reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2014. A government spokesman described it as a “surgical operation” to get the suspected terrorist from a house where he was receiving medical treatment.
Hapilon eluded arrest and was able to call in forces from the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group in Marawi. They burned government facilities, schools and a church and took hostage several civilians, including a priest. The condition of the hostages is not known.
The entry of more armed militants and the violence that ensued became the bases for President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law declaration in the whole of Mindanao.
Why was Hapilon able to escape and call for support from these armed groups? Didn’t the arresting team foresee the difficulties in capturing an elusive top terrorist? Why were the military and police not able to block the entry of these armed groups into Marawi? They could have posted tanks to block entry points and readied helicopters or jet fighters to anticipate trouble.
Was the US$5 million bounty for the capture of Hapilon a factor in what triggered the crisis and subsequent martial law proclamation in Mindanao?
It’s hard to pinpoint blame for who or what triggered the emergency situation in Mindanao but there should be an investigation on how Hapilon escaped and how the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups were able to wreak havoc in Marawi.
Jet fighters fired rockets at suspected Maute positions Saturday in an effort to get back control of the city even as civilians were seen waving white flags from their homes to signal government to spare them the bombardment.
Hapilon is in the most wanted terrorist list of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for “alleged involvement in terrorist acts against United States nationals and other foreign nationals in and around the Republic of the Philippines.” He served as deputy or second in command for the Abu Sayyaf that took foreign nationals hostage and committed violent acts against them to include murder.
The FBI.gov website said the Rewards For Justice Program of the United States Department of State is offering a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading directly to the arrest or conviction of Hapilon. That amount translates to roughly a quarter of a billion pesos.
The joint military-police team that tried to serve the arrest warrant on Hapilon could explain what went wrong, and seek lessons to guide them the next time something like this happens.
Government is busy trying to control the gun battles continuing in Marawi city and addressing the plight of the thousands of residents who have fled to nearby provinces. An investigation eventually would have to be made on why and how it all started.