Lawless elements Dawla Islamia /ISIS threats causes massive displacement of the residents of Marogong, Lanao del Sur

 

Map of Lanao del Sur

 BY JUN ENRIQUEZ

 ILIGAN City – On Thursday afternoon (May 25, 2023), a group of armed men, allegedly members of the ISIS/ DAWLA ISLAMIA were apprehended by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander “DELTA” at the periphery of his camp, JABBAL NUR situated at Brgy. Pabrica, Marogong, Lanao del Sur. Initially, there were six suspected members but the two were cleared and released. Later on, Friday, May 26, 2023, the suspects were turned over to the military, 32^nd Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army (PA). 

Apprehended suspects of DI/ISIS armed group with their weapons 

The situation worsened when the commander of the group, ABU ZAKARIA, issued a statement on Friday afternoon (May 26, 2023) through the two-way radio that they will definitely retaliate and urge the civilian to evacuate the place for their own safety. This caused panic among the residents resulted to the evacuation of approximately  90% of the constituents. According to the MDRRMO of Marogong municipality, estimated a total of 3,500 households (21,000 individuals) evacuated to the different nearby municipalities; Malabang, Picong, Balabagan, Lumbaca Unayan, Bayang and Binidayan, among other municipalities.

The alleged lawless elements of Dawla Islamia/ISIS armed group threatened the local residents of Marogong, Lanao del Sur to escalate conflict due to the apprehension of the four suspected members of the lawless armed group, by the MILF led by Commander “Delta” with the confiscation of firearms and improvised explosive devised (IEDs) from the suspects. 

Confiscated weapons

After several consultations and dialogues conducted, commander Delta decided to turn over the apprehended individuals to the 32^nd Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army (PA), stationed at barangay Matling, Malabang, Lanao Del Sur. At around 3:00 P.M. on May 26, an alleged sightings of heavily armed men surrounded the Poblacion area of Marogong caused tensions and panic among the residents. At around 7:00 P.M., residents of barangay Poblacion Proper, Marogong East, Balut and Bolawanun started to evacuate and boarded their vehicles to leave their respective residences seeking for their safety. At around 7:30PM, the alleged leader and commander of the terrorist group, ABU ZAKARIA,  announced thru the two-way radio (local frequency) threatening for retaliation and sent warning to the local populace to leave their houses to avoid getting caught in the crossfire should chaos begins. Majority of the local business store owners at the public market places pulled out their merchandise/goods which worries the residents who did not evacuated where to get their daily basic needs.

In a follow-up reports stated that large number of residents of the municipality of Marogong, Lanao del Sur evacuated to the nearest towns of Binidayan, Tubaran, Bayang, Masiu, Malabang, Balabagan, Calanogas, Bacolod-kalawi, Lumbatan and Marawi City.

The Municipal Government of Binidayan actively acted through the MDRRMO, MSWO, PNP, Military and other concern government agencies to closely coordinating with the BDRRMC to gather data and update the evacuees in their respective barangay. The Local government unit (LGU) of Binidayan made initiatives to provide food assistance to the evacuees.

On the following day, PBGEN ALLAN C NOBLEZA, Regional Director (RD), Provincial Regional Office (PRO) Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR), personally visited the Marogong Municipality, Lanao Del Sur to ensure and monitor the peace and security of the area and conducted a consultative meeting with the Local Government Unit, headed by Hon. Haroun T Marohom, Vice Mayor, Municipality of Marogong. "Kami po ay nandito upang unang-una, tugunan ang pangangailangan pagdating sa seguridad ng bayan ng Marogong” stated Nobleza. The National Government, especially the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is very much concern about the security and safety of the people of Marogong, considering that the threat posed by DI-MG in this municipality is very eminent because of the pronouncement through the social media of the leader of DI-MG. We have deployed additional troops to oversee the peace and order in the area", said PBGEN Nobleza. 

PBGEN Allan C Nobleza delivered a message during a visit in Marogong

In the initial identified five municipalities hosted the Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marogong town, are the municipalities of Binidayan with 109 affected families comprised 557 individuals; Malabang has 106 affected families at 531 individuals; Tubaran affected families has 117 affected families at 586 individuals; Sultan Domalondong has 15 affected families at 74 individuals; Balabagan has 17 affected families at 86 individuals; A total affected families are numbering to 364 at 834 individuals.

The Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), continuously monitoring of the incident through the concerned government agencies and coordinated with the 32 IB regarding the incident. The provincial government of Lanao del Sur through the Provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) is closely coordinating with the Local DRRMOs to gather data and updates on the situation in the areas of concerned. The authorities of the Municipality of Marogong are in alert status and closely coordinating with regional and local government offices and security sector to monitor the status of the IDPs. There were No reported cases of casualties, Injured or Missing during the incident in Marogong.

Latest information gathered, just the other night of May 28, 2023, another message from a certain commander ABU ZACARIA, of the alleged lawless armed group, was relayed and stated that the residents may return to their respected homes as he pledged not to involve the civilians and implying that there will be no war/battle happening soon. According to the Brgy. Chairman ALCAIR HALIM DIATOR of Brgy. Proper, 10 percent of the evacuees have already returned. More IDPs are expected to return in their residences at Marogong starting this day and the following days to come. (Jun Enriquez, is a Digital-Mobile Journalist; Sources: PDRRMO, MDRRMOs; BARMM DRRMO; PNP BAR; MERN)