“The swift action by the President… has factored profoundly in liberating Marawi.

It is a no brainer that conceptually government exists to protect the people. This is after all, the raison d’ etre of every government. But the quality of its service is to a large extent dependent upon the sum of the character and ability of the one steering it, qualities that are sometimes forged by experience in “troubled waters.” Leadership mettle is put to supreme test during crisis of national and international ramifications. One such crisis was the Marawi siege.

In the Philippines, the creeping tentacles of Islam’s violent wahabbism as championed and evangelized by self-proclaimed de facto caliph, Al Baghdadi was timely repelled by the decisive, firm and audacious decision of President Duterte during the Marawi attack.

On May 23, 2017 the Marawi assault broke out and President Duterte, who was then on a State visit to Russia rushed home to unsheathe the most potent sword reserved by our forebears for the President when the state’s sovereignty and integrity are being pushed to a precipice. He did not have qualms declaring martial law in Marawi and the rest of Mindanao. This extraordinary move upset the dream of Islamic State to establish a sub-caliphate or wilayat in the Philippines, if not the Southeast Asian region (there were confirmed reports of mujahideens from Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of the region who fought in Marawi).

This presidential feat was never publicly acknowledged. This was buried by the intense fighting that ensued, the welter of news reports about the bloody tragedy and the massive hue and cry of the political opposition and libertarians against martial rule. However, in an international conference which was held early this month in Melbourne, Australia which had for its theme: “Combatting terrorism,” the quick and bold decision by President Duterte was cited as a watershed action that quell the spread of extremism in the Philippines.

The Strong Cities Network which held its annual Global Summit on July 11-12, 2018 invited two Filipino local executives, City Mayors Majul Gandamra of Marawi and Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar of Zamboanga.

According to its website, the SCN is “the first ever global network of mayors, municipal-level policy makers and practitioners united in building social cohesion and community resilience to counter extremism in all its forms.”

The participants were tasked to exchange and share information, ideas and best practices in responding to radicalization and violent extremism that will make them resilient to the menace which has morphed into a global threat. As a United Nation-sanctioned group, SCN is playing a substantive role in fighting the terrorist conflagration.

Mayor Gandamra, speaking as an actual player in the bloody human drama, credited the timely, decisive and audacious decision of President Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao that spared Marawi City and the rest of southern Philippines from the expansionist campaign of the faith-based extremists. And among his recommendations during the panel discussions are: for national leaders not to be namby-pamby but to take head-on resolutely any threat by terrorists; to take seriously any glint of threat and for its security and defense forces to be constantly on their toes; and more importantly, to empower the local executives who are in the forefront of the combat through collaboration with and support from national government. These are features of Mayor Gandamra Post-Travel Report which he shared gratuitously with this column.

Government military action in the Marawi rebellion is far from perfect. The number of casualties and massive destruction it inflicted should deny government any claim of victory. However, some facets and tidbits about the war should be told and retold for posterity. The swift action by the President in declaring martial law may not find unanimous acceptance given our political divide and ideological differences, yet no one can deny that it has factored profoundly in liberating Marawi and preventing the spread of extremism. This tale should be narrated side by side with the gallantry of our men in uniform, fallen and living, including perhaps the security nightmare that President Duterte unnecessarily caused to the nation in personally going to the battlefield to bolster the morale of our soldiers.

“The quick and bold decision by President Duterte was cited as a watershed action that quell the spread of extremism.

Recalling these unadulterated tales recommits one to truth and fairness.

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