Editorial. Stigma of Lawlessness
Perhaps for centuries, be it true or not, Lanao has been regarded as a dangerous place for strangers and outsiders.
Today, efforts to erase that image are done by officials not only of the province but of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao who want to tap the tourism potentials of the region as a source of revenue for the government and employment for the people.
Every now and then, however, spoilers are around to wreck government endeavors.
Rido is still the top priority peace and order problem, according to the City Mayor of Marawi who is running for Governor in the 2016 polls.
Even the top policeman of Marawi was slain in an ambush a while ago that seems to have remained unsolved to this day.
Last November 17, five construction workers were rescued from being hostaged by their employer in the town of Molundo.
According to Marlon Hernandez, the Foreman, they were allegedly recruited in Baliwag, Bulacan, sometime last July by one Alimudin Ibra to construct the latter’s house in Molundo.
However, upon their arrival, they found that works in Ibra’s house were not continuous due to irregular arrival of materials. So, they were brought to Maguing to build the mansion of Ibra’s parents there.
Upon the completion of that house last November 15, they were brought to Molundo and placed under guard by four men armed with short and long firearms.
Allowed to go home, the wife of the Foreman and her two children came to Iligan City CSWD and asked for assistance. The Crime and Calamity Action Team composed of elements of the Police, NBI and the military who with the assistance of the authorities in the province of Lanao del Sur and the town of Molundo rescued all the hostages unharmed. (Please see whole stary in this issue).
As in previous incidents, the victims would not press charges and the culprit is free to repeat his mischief when the next opportunity arises.
The point here is that the stigma of lawlessness in the province is too difficult to remove from the minds of outsiders.
This is a black mark that always undermines all efforts to attain progress and development. It is an obstacle that bars the removal of Lanao del Sur from NEDA’s list of the poorest provinces in the Philippines
Something must be done.
Today, efforts to erase that image are done by officials not only of the province but of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao who want to tap the tourism potentials of the region as a source of revenue for the government and employment for the people.
Every now and then, however, spoilers are around to wreck government endeavors.
Rido is still the top priority peace and order problem, according to the City Mayor of Marawi who is running for Governor in the 2016 polls.
Even the top policeman of Marawi was slain in an ambush a while ago that seems to have remained unsolved to this day.
Last November 17, five construction workers were rescued from being hostaged by their employer in the town of Molundo.
According to Marlon Hernandez, the Foreman, they were allegedly recruited in Baliwag, Bulacan, sometime last July by one Alimudin Ibra to construct the latter’s house in Molundo.
However, upon their arrival, they found that works in Ibra’s house were not continuous due to irregular arrival of materials. So, they were brought to Maguing to build the mansion of Ibra’s parents there.
Upon the completion of that house last November 15, they were brought to Molundo and placed under guard by four men armed with short and long firearms.
Allowed to go home, the wife of the Foreman and her two children came to Iligan City CSWD and asked for assistance. The Crime and Calamity Action Team composed of elements of the Police, NBI and the military who with the assistance of the authorities in the province of Lanao del Sur and the town of Molundo rescued all the hostages unharmed. (Please see whole stary in this issue).
As in previous incidents, the victims would not press charges and the culprit is free to repeat his mischief when the next opportunity arises.
The point here is that the stigma of lawlessness in the province is too difficult to remove from the minds of outsiders.
This is a black mark that always undermines all efforts to attain progress and development. It is an obstacle that bars the removal of Lanao del Sur from NEDA’s list of the poorest provinces in the Philippines
Something must be done.
The New Ranao Star
