By : Lieutenant General (Ret) Soedibyo
The Marawi Crisis was started on May 23, 2017 when President Rodrigo Duterte of the Republic of the Philippines declared that Mindanao was under Military Emergency Act and the Army and the Philippine Constabulary (Police) which were held the military raid to Marawi to capture Ispilon Hapilon the leader of Abu Sayyaf militant wing who is leaning to ISIS have to increase their military raid into the Military Campaign against the regional ISIS militant followers in the Philippines occupying the City of Marawi and the Maute militant group which surrounded the Marawi City to support the ISIS militant followers in the City of Marawi , Mindanao del Sur.
It apparently needed two weeks of battle for the Government Armed Forces and the Philippine Constabulary (Pollice) to occupy just around 80% of Marawi with 59 members of the Armed Forces died including 13 members of the Marines Cor Unit. This tactical position did not change after three week of Marawi battle.
It was likely the tactical battle in the City has been lasting continuously, apparently the ISIS militant followers were preparing various defense infra structure such as hiding holes, tunnel and bunkers and silently moving and attacking The Government Armed Forces and the Phjilippine Constabularty while everyone of the ISIS mlitant followers demonstrating their readiness for dying. Accordingly there is definitely not any normal life could be done in the City.
Repot said it is estimated there are around 9000 refugees which is needing for help for their basic life.
On Sunday June 18, 2017 after three week of Marawi battle President Rodrigo Duterte had appeared in news report after he was speaking in front the Fourth Army Brigade to convey his appreciation and the Countrys gratefulness to the heroic battle of all the Government Forces to eradicate the ISIS militant group in Marawi.
The main issue raised by Presiden Rodrigo Duterte in his speaks were : it was three weeks of the battle of Marawi went by. The battle against the religious ISIS militant followers in Marawi is still going on fiercely.
However President Rodrigo Duterte said the military campaign will be ended soon and the Military Emergency Act will be also lift up but The President of The Republic of The Philippines shall apply it again if Mindanao is under the serious threat of the ISIS militant followers.
We realized this is a really hard battle. We are in the battle against the people who are ready to die because they are cheated by a group of people who had manipulated the Name of God for their ambition. The Armed Forces and the Philippine Constabulary (Police) will continue their mission to eradicate the militant. According to official record 225 militants died while on the Government side 59 members of the Armed Forces died and also 26 members of the Civilian were killed.
The situation of the Philippines has been really crucial when President Rodrigo Duterte was in big challenge to protect the country from disintegration apparently a number of politicians and scholar are busy of talking about Law and legal authority right to declare the Military Emergency Act. As if those politician and scholarsd did not care about what happened in Marawi, Mindanao del Sur.
However observer are also of the opinion that the information circulated among the people said that around three hundred people of both sides had died and the application of the Military Emergency Act started to be discussed and became the main complain issue in the Philippines society has likely push President Rodrigo Duterte appear in front of the soldiers to clarify the situation.
According to the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines the Military Emergency Act only could be declared if the Country is facing the military invasion or the rebellion.
The politician said the Supreme Court could cancel the Military Emergency Act declared by the President at any time if it is against the Law. However through the Press President Duterte asked : Actually what do you want to do for this country. Do you want to let the militant rebelling the Country and burning the Mindanao ?
President Redrigo Duterte said answering his quesdtion: I have to save the country and I will do it alone if necessary without asking anybody (including the Supreme Court). President Rodrigo Duterte is reported to be looked very tired. But he said if he could not work Vice President will take over his job.
According to official record 225 militants died while on the Government side 59 members of the Armed Forces died and also 26 members of the Civilian were kill have made the Country of the Philippines to feel uncertain.
According to Sydne Jones one international researcher on South East Asia said President Rodrigo Duterte is true. Maute group under the leadership of Omarkhayam Romato Maute and Abdullah Mauto , to have made Maute group to be considered as the strong ideological follower of ISIS in the Philippines. Accordingly Maute group is the real threat to the Republic of the Philippines.
However the growing of Maute group as the strong ISIS militant follower in Mindanao to be considered as the mistake of President Rodrigo Duterte because earlier President Rodrigo Duterte is to soft to Maute group who is considered just the separatist group.
Accordingly the move of Ispilon Hapilon as the Abu Sayyaf militant wing who is leaning to ISIS in Syria and who is trying to close to Maute helped by the Malayan called Mahmud Ahmad to have been almost neglected as the religious militant in Mindanau and constituted the potential followers of ISIS in Syria and surprisingly to have made the City of Marawi as the strategic Connection Point for all ISIS militant follower in Mindanau del Sur, namely Maute group, Abu Sayyaf group and the Foreign Militia coming from abroad including Indonesia.
The strong attitude of President Rodrigo Duterte to eradicate the ISIS militant followers in Marawi is likely because he did not give much attention to the the grow of the religious militant in Marawi, comprising of Maute militant group, Abu Syayaf militant group and the foreign militia from a number of coutries such as 40 persons detected coming from Indonesia.
President Rodrigo Duterte is looked likely to be lack of alertness against those potential militant group. He has paid too much attention on the war against drug.
President Rodrigo Dutertu is realizing now, Marari is the strong Connection Point for the meeting of Maute group, AbuSyayaf of Ispinul Hapinul group and Foreign Militia as the ISIS militant followers in Mindanao.
After three weeks of battle in Marawi, the Armed Forces of The Republic of the Philippines has only control 80 % of Marawi territory while 20 % of the Marawi territory is still controlled by the ISIS militant followers and the tactical battle in the City of Marawi is apparently continuing.
Once President Rodrigo Duterte was asking the possible cooperation among the ASEAN country to solved the Marawi Criris, because Marawi could become Ragga or Mosul in South East Asia.
Information said the meeting among the Defense and Security leaders among ASEAN countries will be held soon in East Kalaimantan Indonesia.
Observers tend to believe all those ASEAN leaders on Defense and Security should have the correct, accurate and pertinent information about what happened first and its impact to all ASEAN countries before they decide what kind of agreed support could be decided. Because dealing with the religion certainly we should correct in understanding the problem.
It is likely the Goverrnment of the Republic of the Philippines should be help militarily to control totally 100 % of Marawi City and to support Marawi City lived in normal condition as it was before crisis.
The second Ragga or Kabul in Mindanau should be strongly prevented in line with the agenda of all the Countries in South East Asia to kill the ISIS ideological and political concept to be develop in South East Asia.
One news report is expected really good news for the Countries which are facing the problem of the emerge of the ISIS ideological and political concept to be trying developed by Abu Bakar Albhagdadi the highest leader of ISIS reported to have died hit by Russian bomb. Political and Security Observer.
