A priest searches for answers in Marawi

THE first thing Aglipayan priest Fr. Chris Ablon did when Martial Law was declared last May 23 was to tune out Facebook and head to Marawi.

Travelling from Bukidnon, he arrived there two days later, with guides and peace volunteers, and listened to the Marawi residents narrate what happened on that day when soldiers and the Maute fighters started a war in their city.

He went back to Facebook days later and posted photos with the Marawi bakwets. "Aside from sharing and debating about what is happening, it is as important to listen to what the people in Marawi have to say," he said.

He continues to talk about their stories, as in last Wednesday during the Kalinaw Mindanao forum held in Ateneo de Davao, where reports of the humanitarian missions to Marawi and other towns hit by Martial Law were presented, Fr. Chris shared the Maranao people's stories.

He talks of Jalal and his father Idris, that when the gunbattle began on May 23 in the afternoon, a bomb hit their house while they were still inside retrieving their belongings. Their bodies have not yet been retrieved.

Jalal's sister saw this, so did her nephew Saipuddin, 13 years old, who ran towards the house but was stopped by soldiers. Until now, the soldiers are still holding Saipuddin, Fr. Chris said, for reasons the soldiers can tell.

He talks of Mama Carol, who told her three daughters to immediately leave the city when Martial Law was declared. "She told them to leave after hearing Duterte made that rape joke to his soldiers," he recalled.

There were many women who told of the same stories, where soldiers try to prevent them from leaving the city, and joked with them. "If you're good, then you're good. But if you're bad, we're going to rape you." "We'll protect you here as long as there's martial law, and we'll marry the pretty single women here." These were the jokes soldiers told women survivors.

He shared Ustadz Ismail's story who thought his house would be safe as it is just a few meters from the military's Camp Ranao, where American troops were reportedly stationed. Ustadz' family hid in their underground bunkhouse, a common shelter for Maranaos to protect themselves from rido-triggered gunfights. But the next day, his neighbor’s house was hit by the airstrike. When he came out, he saw the Maute fighters before his house gate. The armed men told him to bring his family out of the city, and he wasted no time and fled.

The stories go on and on. Just as the airstrikes and bombings continue to pulverize Marawi. And there are other stories in other places where Moro and Lumads are now refugees from their own place, in Maguindanao, Matanao, and Pres. Roxas triggered by martial law and all-out war.

"Social media is loud and confusing, with so many experts, so many colors and so many interests," said Fr. Chris. "But let's hear the distinct voice, the truth according to the victims."

There are reasons to tell these stories, just as there are reasons to justify a war on terror. But Fr. Chris and peace advocates know one of the first casualties of war aside from the evacuees in Mindanao is the truth. It's a truth to help find better understanding and solutions. As Fr. Chris said in the forum: "An uninformed Christian and citizen will only add to the problem at hand. For those who have ears, let them hear." (tyvelez@ gmail.com)