Protests mount as eviction looms for 5,000 families who survived Marawi siege

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Various groups sounded alarm bells and protested in Cagayan de Oro as about 5,000 families displaced by the 2017 Marawi siege face eviction from their temporary shelters.

The groups criticized delays in the rehabilitation of Marawi City’s areas affected by the five-month battle between government forces and the Maute Group in 2017. They urged the government to address urgent humanitarian concerns, as approximately 5,000 displaced families face eviction before the year ends.

The protest, led by youth group Hirang ng Hiraya at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) on Saturday, December 14, called for urgent government action to address the looming displacement crisis. The event followed a peace caravan in Marawi on December 4, where participants witnessed the dire conditions in which siege survivors continue to live.

“They rejoice when it rains because there is no water connection. They also have no proper comfort rooms. Imagine enduring that for seven years,” said Irene Jan Udtohan of Hirang ng Hiraya. 

She said the group had coordinated with the IDP-led Reclaiming Marawi Movement to amplify their appeal outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Among the groups that joined the prayer protest were the Interfaith Forum of Peace, Harmony, and Solidarity; the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro; the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP); Interfaith Youth Cagayan de Oro; the Muslim Youth Council of Cagayan de Oro; and the Al-Raid Muslim Student Organization of USTP. Participants carried placards highlighting their demands.

The IDP-led group recently launched an online petition to gather support for their appeal, which includes urging the Senate committees on accountability of public officers and blue ribbon to conduct an independent inquiry into the Marawi rehabilitation efforts.

The areas most affected by the Marawi siege include 24 barangays categorized as the most affected areas (MAA), with another eight villages designated as other affected areas (OAA).

In June, members of the ad hoc committee on Marawi rehabilitation and victims’ compensation in the House of Representatives held a public hearing in Marawi. Officials from various government agencies cited housing, water supply, electricity, and sewerage systems as major challenges in the city’s rehabilitation.

During the hearing, an IDP representative revealed that displaced families were now paying rent – ranging from P500 to P2,000 – for the private land where their temporary shelters stand. The representative called on the national government to provide permanent housing.

On November 28, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 78, creating the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation and Development to fast-track the completion of the rehabilitation process.

Pastor Joshua Job Salva of UCCP-Central Mindanao emphasized the need to return the IDPs to their original homes to help them recover. 

“Extending the contracts for their temporary shelters only prolongs their agony,” he said.

Salva also criticized the government for prioritizing issues like confidential funds over urgent concerns affecting ordinary people. 

“The struggles faced by our brothers and sisters in Marawi deserve the government’s full attention,” he said.

The now-defunct Task Force Bangon Marawi initially aimed to complete the rehabilitation by December 2021. However, recent reports show the work is still only about 80% complete.

Hirang ng Hiraya also noted that many victims have yet to receive compensation under the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022. The law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) were signed in May 2023.

As of November 30, the Marawi Compensation Board reported a total of 1,114 approved and 117 consolidated claims, amounting to more than P1.9 billion. Of these, 496 claims worth over P841 million have been disbursed.

The groups called on the public to stand in solidarity with Marawi siege victims by signing the online petition and amplifying their voices amid these challenges. – Rappler.com