MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The commemoration of the anniversary of the liberation of the city here from five-month warfare in 2017 signifies a great realization to the public that is not to allow another firefight to happen, said the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
While the National Cooperative Month is celebrated in the same month as the observation of the said occasion, the CDA has also been posting reminders to the whole populace of the locality that it is important to banner a lasting peace to welcome development which covers all of the communities, including the cooperatives.
CDA Board Member Asec. Datu Pendatun Disimban underscored that they do not commemorate the liberation anniversary because they wished for what happened years ago, rather, they want it to serve as a lesson to all citizens.
He stated that residents, especially internally displaced persons (IDPs), could attest to how difficult it was for them to sustain their survival amidst the aftermath of the destruction.
As such, Disimban emphasized that it is only appropriate to be one in fighting the causes of war.
“Alam natin kung gaano kasakit ang nangyari sa ating lahat. Ayaw natin maramdaman iyan ng ating ng mga kababayan kahit saan man sa mundo kaya tayo ay nagkocommemorate para lagi tayo magkaisa para huwag na nating hayaan at payagan pa ang nangyari five years ago,” he said.
[We know how hurtful all the scenarios were. We do not want that our fellowmen anywhere in the world would feel that, that is why we commemorate this so that we will always be unified and not permit what happened five years ago.]
Disimban shared that they have been consulting religious leaders regarding the siege in the city in 2017 and all of them, accordingly, emphasized that the involved terrorists were wrong and morally lost.
He reiterated that Islam is a religion for peace and this did not command the killing of innocent lives, regardless of their religion and spiritual beliefs.
“Kung mayroong gumagawa nito ay mali sila. Hindi sila Muslim kaya dapat magkaisa tayo. Kung mali sila at tayo ang tama ay dapat hindi tayo matakot na ipaglaban ang tama,” said Disimban.
[If someone is doing this, then they are wrong. They are not Muslims, that is why we need to be unified. If they are wrong and we are right, then we must not fear defending what is right.]
This year, the city commemorates the fifth anniversary of its liberation from the five-month brutal attack of the Daesh-inspired Maute group in 2017. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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