First siege of Marawi

Marawi is no stranger to violent adventurism of Koran-quoting marauding extremists. History must have overlooked the earlier siege of Marawi because it was not as bloody and devastating as the 23 May 2017 battle. The earlier one lasted for only three days, which was quelled with the timely arrival of then Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, chief of the Philippine Constabulary. But it showed how vulnerable the city and resident Maranaos to attack by militant dissidents with aberrant ideology.

Today marks the 48th year of the first siege. It occurred at dawn of 21 October 1972, exactly one month after the proclamation of martial law by then President Ferdinand Marcos. The draconian law had put people opposed to Marcos on the run. Organized political and ideological adversaries of Marcos were near paralysis afraid of arrest. The sudden takeover of media by the centurions of the regime had effectively silenced everybody. But not in Marawi. Rebellious Maranaos were busy plotting and preparing for an armed resistance. At dawn of that fateful day, the first shot in defiance of martial law was fired in the historic city. That shot reverberated throughout Mindanao. It had inspired and reignited the flame of revolution of organized Moro liberation fronts. It was a call to arms to other rebels. The conflagration would have engulfed a large swath of Morolandia if it was not stopped at its nascent.

Before the coup of Marcos, he was publicly admitting that the enemies of the Republic were knocking at our doors to condition the mind of the public. In fact, that was one of the preambular whereases of the text of the proclamation. Mindanao in the early Seventies was soaking in blood. There was fighting between separatist Moros and state troopers. The military, for lack of number, had to organize paramilitary groups to help fight dissidents. In fact, state-sponsored groups like the dreaded Ilagas were armed and financed by the State as subsidiary fighters. The Manili massacre of about 70 Muslims in a mosque in Carmen, North Cotabato and similar atrocities were allegedly staged by these paramilitary groups.

The Marawi siege of 1972 was staged by a local sleeper cell of the Moro National Liberation Front called Iklas.

The primary target was Camp Keithley (renamed Amai Pakpak) situated within the city. But it paralyzed the city. Scores died and were injured with the sporadic burning of structures (our four-door commercial apartment was razed to the ground), while courts, schools and other government structures were closed. DXSO radio station was taken over by the rebels, and two of my students at the Mindanao State University, Ibrahim Mamao and Ali Laguindab, took turns broadcasting nonstop the injustices committed to the Moros. There was heavy fighting. The soldiers although outnumbered and outgunned refused to surrender. There was a stalemate and it promised to be a long-drawn impasse. By a twist of fate, then Brigadier General Ramos saved the city.

“Mindanao in the early Seventies was soaking in blood. There was fighting between separatist Moros and state troopers.

In an earlier article I wrote: “The presence alone of General Ramos was the tipping point in the battle. The camp defenders were visibly relieved to see their chief fighting side by side with them and their flagging morale for being outnumbered fired up. Their patriotic fervor resurged. True to his sobriquet, ‘Steady Eddie’ was in his element commanding and rallying the camp defenders to fight on. He personally reorganized the defenses by strengthening fighting positions and realigning the troops in key areas, and rallied the men to carry on the fight…” The rebels eventually withdrew and Marawi City was liberated. For this singular feat of bravery, General Ramos was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Star on 1 July 1986 “for conspicuous courage and gallantry in action during an attack by over 400 Muslims… of Camp Amai Pakpak and Mindanao State University, both in Marawi City, on 23 October 1972…” The text of the citation described in detail the gallantry of General Ramos.”

Marawi is resilient like the fabled bamboo. It went through natural and manmade calamities but remains unbroken. Like its present desolate condition, it will rise again like a phoenix to regain its splendor and proper place in the sun — with or without Task Force Bangon Marawi.

“Marawi is resilient like the fabled bamboo. It went through natural and manmade calamities but remains unbroken.