Maranaos to sue Phl gov’t for Marawi destruction
A Maranao group is poised to file charges against the Philippine Army and the Philippine government for the destruction of Marawi City due to bombings in the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.
The decision was reached during the recent two-day Bangsa Mranaw Congress held in Iligan City.
Lawyer Firdausi Abbas, chairman of Bangsa Mranaw Congress, said that when the battle in Marawi stops, his group will file cases at the International Court of Justice. They will seek a P120-billion payment in damages from the Philippine government for the destruction of Marawi City and abuses of the military.
Abbas also said his group will ask for the creation of a congressional task force to attend to the needs of the 400,000 displaced Maranaos.
The military said it needs “a few more days” to end the Marawi crisis and completely defeat the Maute group so that rebuilding and rehabilitation can finally go into full swing.
Government troops believe that the fighting will soon end but refused to set a definite deadline as to when the war-torn locality will finally be freed of terrorists.
AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said Western Mindanao Command commander Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. is asking for a few more days to finish the task. It could mean a week or two.
The fighting has remained intense since Saturday after government troops attempted to finish the operation.
Galvez said that while the operations showed good result, they recommended extension to ensure safety of at least 46 civilian hostages and to clear the remaining buildings in the operation area.
On Sunday morning, soldiers held mass at the recaptured St. Mary’s Cathedral as heavy gunfire reverberated nearby where government forces attempted to finish off the Islamic State-inspired Maute group to end the battle in Marawi.
Maj. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, said the mass was held to celebrate the feast of St. Therese, patron saint of the military. The mass was officiated by Capt. Alferdo Era Jr., assistant division chaplain of the Army’s 1st Division, and was attended by 100 soldiers.
As the mass was going on, government forces assaulted the remaining fighters of the Maute group in the main battle area.
“The troops are on defensive positions as they continue to engage the terrorists in the main battle area,” Bautista said.
Galvez gave assurance that the military has significant control of the operation area where the Maute group has been cornered in the remaining two mosques.
As of yesterday, 155 policemen and soldiers have been killed in battle, 47 civilians died at the hands of the Maute group and 742 Maute members were killed since the conflict started on May 23.