Maranao federalists seek reparations, compensation of Marawi Siege victims

MASIDING NOOR YAHYA
Iligan City, Philippines
February 1, 2018

Atty. Bayan G. Balt files a letter of appeal to the Office of Senate President Pimentel in Manila. @RSP file photo.

A group of Maranao multi-sector leaders comprising the Ranao Federal State Movement has asked Congress to craft a law on the reparations and compensation of the Maranaos in the wake of the Marawi Siege from May 23 to October 22, 2017 which killed innocent civilians, devastated homes and properties and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents. 

In separate letters to the leaderships of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the group urged Congress to craft a law to be entitled, “The Maranao Reparations and Compensation Act of 2018” and appropriate a One Hundred Twenty Billion (PhP120-B) Pesos funds as reparations and payments for damages to the Maranao victims of the Marawi Siege. 

The letters addressed to Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, and House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, were signed by Atty. Bayan G. Balt, Agakhan “Binladin” M. Sharief, and Dr. Ali B. Panda, president, first vice president and second vice president respectively, of Ranao Federal State Movement. 

The group proposed that the amount shall be sourced from the P120-Billion Malampaya Stand Fund, the PhP44-Billion annual power revenues generated from the Agus hydroelectric power plants, the Social Fund of the President, and donations from foreign and local donors including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and loans from local and foreign banks. 

It said the proposed law shall include payments for damages to private homes, loss of properties and livelihood and death benefits for civilians who died in the course of war and the rehabilitation of mosques and other places of worship. (RSP)