AINAH M.

LAO

12-MOTIVATION

CANNOT HEARD THE VOICES

Marawi city is a Muslim area where occupies thousands of population of Maranao and Tausug.
The country alarmed by hearing the news “The Marawi siege”, May 23, 2017 a small Barangay
in Marawi named, Basak Malotlot was firstly attacked by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).
And by the day pass, the siege becomes larger that affects the citizens to evacuate.

Ramadhan will be held in the holy month of May, where Muslims awaits it to perform fasting.
Week before the start of Ramadhan, thousands of Muslims from Philippines reunited in Marawi
to welcome the upcoming Ramadhan, foreign people joined too. Unfortunately, ISIS from
different part of country, ensemble and assign by the Maute group, have the chance to enter
Marawi by joining the caravan too, many Muslims knew about the upcoming war, but choses to
be silent. After a week, Basak Malotlot, is the first place where the siege begins, on that day,
the 1st district governor and mayor city, Usman Gandamra, announces to all citizens to do
evacuate. Citizens can no longer run for help, even the police are scared to fight.

The siege is ongoing about 3 days, and the citizens evacuated to Iligan and Cagayan, but other
citizens still stand their selves not to evacuate and choses to protect their homes. The people
are asking for the help of government, and the Muslims voiced is “We need an Army here!”.
President Duterte sent militars on the second day of siege. Multiple establishments and
especially Mosques were spotted by huge grenades of ISIS. People said, that ISIS were not
Muslims, they are Shia that controlled and paid by the former mayor of Marawi, Arafat Salic. On
the last election, Arafat didn’t make it to the final to win the position again, he decided for a
rebellion against the new members of the positions; he is also under by a powerful man, from
other country to support guns, bombs, and money.

President Duterte, declared a Martial law in Mindanao. It is the proclamation No. 216 of 2017.
Citizens were lightens their heart and mind by hearing the proclamation, because it is their
need, to protect by army.

After declaring the Martial Law, the Mindanao was covered by a military, yet the siege is
ongoing. All roads were putted a checkpoints. But little they don’t think, the president gave the
power to the military, meaning militars can do whatever they want. By the month passed by,
the numbers of ISIS, slowly decreased. The maute brothers were shot and former Mayor, Arafat
together with the parents of Maute brothers were arrested and tortured, but the media, did
not cast the torturing. Militars robbed money from those houses, they even raped and tortured
young woman. “lag-lag bala” in checkpoints are their habit to get some money to the drivers.
But the media is silent about the bad sides of Military. The Mindanao was full of killings and
robbery, citizens asked to stop the Martial Law because of improper trait of militars that the
world can’t see. Citizens are once became pro Duterte and turned into anti Duterte. And until
now, the expansion of Martial Law did not stop. UP students are right.