Finally it’s the extremists on the run
TBy HE death of Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon has brought a sigh of relief in many quarters in Mindanao. After 3 separate administrations failed, this government finally got him.
The sustained efforts to defeat this evil brand of terrorism reaped the results we hoped, and with it, the high morale of an armed forces whose reputation as the nation’s defender suffered under previous administrations.
No longer is the Filipino soldier the butt of jokes or the object of scorn. The pride gained from the broad support is the firm hand of the people that has their back, ready to provide support, prayers and love as the men and women deploy to repulse invasion and terror.
Likewise, no longer will Mindanao provinces be havens for these drug lords masked as terrorists. Their lairs flushed out, shabu laboratories burned, and hideouts crushed, they held out as best they could, but could not survive the rejuvenated will of the Philippine State to fulfill the mandate to destroy enemies like them.
These invaders thought that like previous governments, the military could be cowed, or worse, bought. Allegations of such treachery once echoed in the chat rooms of ex-military officers. Not anymore.
For a long time people were apprehensive about supporting a military they believed were in cahoots with rebels and criminal syndicates. Their go -- to was to support rebels for fear of reprisal, as siding with government then would bring them the same fate. This is further evidenced by an increased capability to gather human intelligence from surrounding communities. Clearly, things have changed.
For the first time, the Philippine state scored a decisive victory against an insidious foreign invader, and did so by imposing its will while building its morale, and organizing broad civil support.
It is an impressive feat, it did so by building a credible version of martial law that not even the President’s detractors could challenge. This gave the power to do what was necessary to close in on, and capture the enemy.
Because of it, terror was isolated, suppressing any paralell efforts in other areas. This is a testament to the Philippine military’s rediscovered sense of teamwork and dedication.
Thus, as we can see in the consistently high trust and performance ratings in Mindanao, the support for the government and its strong hand is clear.
Nonetheless, we expect the President’s detractors to think we Mindanaoans are uncouth hicks for fighting terror in its face, that in our “wild ways” we are doomed to live in a violent land beyond redemption. But we don’t care. They left us to our devices in the past and we will do what is fit to write finis to this problem. They can be as negative as they can and downplay this victory, but we all know it is a threshold.
A new-found unity among Mindanao’s peoples has been cemented by this decisive action, bolstered by the thought that the state is there to protect them and their interests against these hostiles which, though trying to look benevolent at first, revealed their true colors when they shed the innocent blood of those they hoped to win over.
For many of us these detractors represent an old rotten power order from a previous government that allowed this evil to grow fat and arrogant while neglecting us. They even tried to butter up their image in front of the international community by looking benevolent and respectful to conceal the rot inside the structures.
Three decades of continuous strife and failed peace talks often going back to square one is proof of this mediocrity. Raised expectations fallen flat, their credibility in governing the peace eroded over time.
Their promised peace never came as drugs and crime fed enemies under their watch, keeping us scared and frustrated at just how civil government they boasted of were actually captured by these elements, and marshalled to do their bidding against the people.
Years of kidnappings and piracy in the waters off Mindanao were a foil to the development of sea routes and the flourishing of fisheries to feed our people. The past government did little to challenge this. Metro Manila traffic got more attention.
Thus, they have no right to lecture us on the ways of peace that, sadly, never really took root despite their promises.
Yet the past days have filled us with hope. With the announcement of joint patrols among the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, we can expect greater security in the Celebes sea off our islands’ coasts.
This will pinch terror and crime into an ever-shrinking corner. This will also cut supply and escape routes, denying them safe harbor among locals that, with increasing impunity, they have also begun to hurt. The mass base is going fast.
Likewise hopeful is the offering of thanks from Marawi residents to Iliganons. Such things inspire partnership to face increasingly real problems
together at the grassroots level. What started with a unified effort to destroy ISIS will rebuild Marawi and strengthen stability in the whole of northern Mindanao.
The call, therefore, is for the authorities to speed up the delivery of services that can hasten the normalization of life in the areas torn by war. It is time to strengthen religious institutions and schools to regenerate and inspire hope.
Immediately, produce locally grown food to enable livelihood and the reinstitution of food supply systems to nourish healing bodies.
Rebuilding Marawi is more than just the buildings. it involves strengthening institutions and relationships to fight common enemies. The synergies are exciting, as the challenges are formidable. These terrorists can try to stage a comeback, but together, Mindanao peoples will unite to slit their throats once again.
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