Duterte wants another Army camp in Marawi

GUARDED The old capitol building in Kapantaran (Maranao term for flat) in Marawi City, the site of a proposed Army camp. —RICHEL V. UMEL

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has emphasized the need to establish another military camp in Marawi City to deter a similar incident in 2017 when local Islamic State (IS) militants were able to build strength and launch a five-month siege, leaving its main commercial district in ruins.

“It’s the age of terrorism so we will just have to do something about it. Come up with something that can mitigate,” Duterte told a briefing last week on the progress of Marawi’s rehabilitation.

“Anyway, when it is peaceful, then it’s about time that the military will go out. My decision to build a military camp there will remain,” he said.

He added: “Now, if you are bothered by my explanation to you, just look at what happened to the Middle East.”

At present, the city hosts Kampo Ranao, about 5 kilometers from the proposed second camp.

Duterte met in Malacañang with some lawmakers, heads of national government agencies involved in Marawi rehabilitation, local government officials and leaders of internally displaced persons.

The meeting was called to thresh out issues on rebuilding the city and the inability of many families to return to their homes and communities.

Deter extremists

Duterte noted that apart from Islamic extremists, communist rebels also posed a threat to the country’s security. He appealed to Maranao leaders to support his decision, stressing the need for the government to take a good security footing in the area.

He said the presence of soldiers was not intended to control people’s lives but to fend off extremists that threatened order.

He also said the government would consider the local community’s sensitivities, religion and culture. He said he would favor Muslim members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be deployed in Marawi City.

Distrust

Amirah Ali Lidasan, spokesperson for Suara Bangsamoro, said establishing a military camp “is a far cry from promoting healing and recovery of the Maranaos who suffered from the tragic loss of their land, homes and culture.”

“It will only further breed distrust from the Bangsamoro toward a government that destroyed our community, killed and wounded several civilians and forced thousands to evacuate due to incessant bombings of the city,” Lidasan said.

The military earlier said that while it defeated the IS militants who joined foreign fighters in attacking Marawi in May 2017, those who survived and escaped had spread out to join other extremist groups across Mindanao.

The siege was spearheaded by Isnilon Hapilon, the IS leader in Southeast Asia. He was killed in the last days of the fighting.

The rebel force under his command took the city by storm, destroyed Marawi’s only Catholic Church, beheaded some members of the Christian minority and held dozens of people hostage, including teachers and students at a local university.