MARAWI CRISIS ‘Listen to maranao voices’
A Moro lawmaker is hopeful that the apology issued by President Rodrigo Duterte to the Muslim community in the wake of the Marawi crisis will “open the gate” for a dialogue.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Assemblyman and Marawi Crisis Management spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said a dialogue will allow the President to listen to “the voices of ordinary Meranao.”
“We also hope that this apology opens the gate for a more productive dialogue between the President and our people so that the President may hear the pain, suffering and the voices of ordinary Meranaos so that he may take guidance from it in his subsequent actions,” Adiong said in a statement Wednesday.
“We accept the apology offered by the President to the Meranao people,” the lawmaker added.
Adiong said they “understand that given the actions taken by the ISIL-linked local militant group against civilian properties, business establishments, religious symbols, educational institutions, government utilities, and health facilities, the national leadership needed to take a very strong action.”
On May 23, Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after clashes erupted between government forces and the Maute group in Marawi.
Military operations against the Maute Group in Marawi entered its 30th day Wednesday. A day before, Duterte went to Iligan City to visit evacuees and apologize to the Maranao people displaced by the attack.
“I would like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin,” he said.
“Sana sa madaling panahon, you will find a new heart to forgive my soldiers, ang gobyerno, pati ako for declaring martial law. Wala akong choice eh sinisira na ang Marawi. I have to drive them out. But I am very sorry,” Duterte added.
Adiong said the Moro community “feels the sincerity of his apology” and we “applaud it.”