People Power? Gutoc says Mindanaoans ‘powerless’ due to martial law

Samira Ali Gutoc-Tomawis. INQUIRER file photo / Joan Bondoc

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc on Monday called on Filipinos to remember the spirit of the Edsa People Power Revolution, amid claims that Mindanaoans are ‘powerless’ due to the existing military rule.

“Mas lalo pang paigtingin [ang People Power].  People power is people powerlessness in Mindanao [under] martial law,” Gutoc said in a statement released on Monday, the 33rd anniversary of the People Power movement.

“Ano’ng klaseng Pilipino tayo kung one-third of the country ay under martial law and people powerlessness?  Dapat paigtingin ang people power movement,” she stressed.

The whole of Mindanao was placed under martial law after terrorists from the Maute group who have expressed allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) took over Marawi City in Lanao del Sur last May 2017.

Marawi was liberated on October 2017, but martial law remains in place, as the administration seeks to maintain peace and order by curbing terrorist attacks and insurgency perpetrated allegedly by communist rebels.

However, Gutoc said that martial law was never the answer for peace in Mindanao, especially after southern provinces were bombed successively, even with the presence of a heightened alert.

READ: 2 soldiers hurt in land mine blast

Last January 27, two explosions rocked the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, killing 22 and injuring 96 others.  The next day, a cop was killed after suspected communist rebels set off a landmine near a police checkpoint in Magpet, North Cotabato.

READ: Death toll in Jolo church bombings rise to 22

Three other bombings occurred after these incidents: on January 31, a grenade was thrown inside a mosque in Zamboanga City, while two other blasts happened in Lanao del Norte just before the start of the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

READ: Explosions rock Lanao del Norte on eve of BOL plebiscite

Gutoc also called on the government to hasten the rehabilitation of Marawi, as some of the city’s residents are still staying in evacuation sites as of now.

“There is a part of Mindanao under a perpetual state of evacuation, and no one in the government is doing anything about it. Pano magdidiwang ng Edsa People Power ang mga taga-Marawi kung hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin sila makauwi?” Gutoc asked.

“Hanggang ngayon, bakwit pa rin sila? Hanggang ngayon, etsapwera pa rin sila?” she said.

READ: Grenade attack on mosque: 2 Muslim preachers killed

President Rodrigo Duterte, for his part, has reportedly been upset with the delayed Marawi rehabilitation.  According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Duterte was “exasperated” by the five month delay.

“He [Duterte] was exasperated, but then again tapos na ‘yun… maguumpisa na eh [that was done, it will now start],” Panelo said in a Palace briefing last October 2018. /je

READ: Palace says Duterte ‘exasperated’ by snail-paced Marawi rehab