ARMM gov tells media: Don’t create a legend out of Marwan

By: Edwin Fernandez - 10 years ago

COTABATO CITY–Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has warned that any effort to create a legend out of Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” or fan animosities between and among various sectors could encourage extremism.

“Let’s not make a legend out of Zulkilfi bin Hir or Marwan or fan animosities,” Hataman, in an interview with reporters here on Monday, said.

Hataman said there was nothing extraordinary about Marwan, the Malaysian bomb expert blamed for the Bali bombings and similar attacks in the southern Philippines.

But he said glorifying his activities or using his activities to fuel animosity would make the situation worst.

The ARMM’s Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said the Mamasapano clash, which killed 44 elite policemen and 19 others–including Marwan–has taken its toll on civilians.

To date, 13 schools in the town–where more than 1,000 children attend classes–has not resumed operation. Displaced school children have refused to attend classes, the RDRRMC said.

In a report provided to the ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (Heart), Ramil Masukat, RDRRMC action officer, said the displaced children came from the barangays (villages) of Daladap, Pedsandawan, Tuka, Penbalakaan, Tukanalipao, Desikel, and Linantangan.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, Heart chief, said about P300,000 worth of agricultural crops, P500,000 worth of properties and homes were also damaged.

Lawyer Kirby Abdulla, focal person for Heart, said some 6,000 villagers have not returned home for fear of more clashes amid reports of movements by soldiers or rebels.

Abdulla said while male evacuees have returned to their corn fields during the day, they would head back to the evacuation center in Barangay Poblacion before night falls.

Karim Pinta, a farmer, said they have remained uncertain about the situation these days and would not want to be caught in the crossfire.