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| Abp Antonio Ledesma SJ, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro |
AS we approach the first anniversary of the Marawi Siege that started on May 23, 2017, several questions have begun to loom large. What is the future of Marawi? How do we help the thousands of internally displaced persons return to their homes or new surroundings? What will happen to the second draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law now pending in Congress? How do we address the specter of violent extremism that may be spreading to other parts of Mindanao? What is the role of religious leaders? What is the contribution of schools as well as of ordinary communities of Christians, Muslims and indigenous people in building a Culture of Peace?
These were some of the questions
addressed by twelve Catholic bishops and twelve Muslim religious leaders in a
dialogue meeting on "Marawi and Beyond" held in Cagayan de Oro City
on April 12, 2018. The bishops
represented their arch/dioceses of Ozamis, Dipolog, Pagadian, Ipil, Isabela,
Jolo, Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Surigao, Tandag, Davao, and the Prelature of
St. Mary's in Marawi. The Muslim
religious leaders represented several organizations of ulama and imams; peace
and interfaith centers; and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. They came from Cotabato, Maguindanao,
Pagadian, Marawi and Cagayan de Oro.
The dialogue meeting started with a
video interview of a Muslim leader who recounted his actions in bringing to
safety his Christian companions at the outbreak of the fighting in the downtown
area of Marawi. Bishop Edwin de la Peña
of Marawi then described the creation of Duyog
Marawi, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the prelature to mobilize
Muslim and Christian volunteers for the ongoing relief work that was being
undertaken, particularly along the "peace corridor" opened up by the
MILF along the other side of Lake Lanao across Marawi.
The participants then took turns in
expressing their concerns and perspectives on the post-Marawi siege situation. Seven summary observations can be
highlighted.
1)
Not too long ago, there were harmonious relations among Christian and
Muslim communities. We need to restore
these relationships of trust and mutual caring.
2)
We are all against violent extremism.
The attraction is particularly felt among the younger Muslims who are
frustrated by the lack of fulfillment of
earlier promises and the long delay in passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law
which would be the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro.
3)
Muslim and Christian religious leaders should be united in working for a
Culture of Peace in Mindanao and the rest of the country. Both Islam and Christianity are religions of
peace. Religious leaders are the respected
promoters of values for their communities.
4)
The displaced residents of Marawi should be allowed to participate in
the rehabilitation plan for their city.
They have suffered much already in evacuation centers or in cramped
quarters with their relatives in neighboring cities.
5)
Many of the Marawi residents do not have titles or other documents to
their occupied lands. By custom and
tradition they have been living there without the need for formalities. Hence, this will pose a challenge to
authorities who have earlier expressed the requirement of at least some tax or
land declaration.
6)
The role of schools and the Madrasah system in promoting peace education
is indispensable. The Department of
Education plays a crucial role in introducing peace education in the
curriculum.
7)
There is need to look after the long-term solution by transforming the
minds and hearts of all stakeholders in Mindanao. Concretely the passage of the BBL can provide
a sustainable framework for the peace and development of Mindanao.
In the course of the discussions, many
participants recommended a wider gathering of religious leaders to stress the
importance of religious and spiritual values that go beyond merely political
solutions in resolving the age-old problem of social conflict in Mindanao.
Two days later after the dialogue
meeting, the Catholic bishops accompanied Bishop De la Peña on a sentimental visit to his war-torn
church and bishop's house at Ground Zero in Marawi City. Part of the flooring was still wet from the
rains that went through the pock-marked roofing. We looked at the disfigured statues that had
been dismembered by some youthful ISIS fighters. This was done and shown on video during the
first day of the siege when the attackers also held hostage Fr. Chito Suganob
and a number of his church staff. At
this moment, we recalled the saying of several Muslim religious leaders in our
dialogue, denouncing these acts of violence as un-Islamic and not the true face
of a religion of peace.
May the first anniversary of the Marawi
siege then be a clarion call for both Christians and Muslims to look beyond and
work together in forging a Culture of Peace and Development for the
island-world of Mindanao.
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