Dureza: 'Social healing' also needed for Marawi rehabilitation
October 30, 2017 | 12:36am
With white flags to indicate they are non-combatants, displaced residents flee to safer areas as government troops battle with Muslim militants on May 29, 2017 in Marawi, southern Philippines. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, file
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza on Sunday called on the people of recently liberated Marawi City to pick up lessons from Zamboanga City, which was also besieged four years ago.
Dureza was referring to the September 2013 attack by members of a Moro National Liberation Front faction led by its founding chairman Nur Misuari.
Dureza reminded Marawi residents that although the government is now moving towards rehabilitation and reconstruction of the battle-scarred capital of Lanao del Sur, the threat of terrorism remains.
Authorities said Sunday that around 10,000 Marawi residents have been allowed to return to their homes. Most of them lived away from the main battle area. Another 33,000 from "controlled areas" that were spared from the worst of the fighting are expected to be allowed to return this week.
“[L]et us not feel complacent that it’s okay and it’s over. The more that we should be vigilant and let’s take it from the experience in Zamboanga. You (Zamboanga) were showing that even if the incident was over, you remain vigilant,” Dureza said over local DXRZ radio.
Dureza said the reconstruction and rebuilding of Marawi has a lot of facets and different phases of works.
He said the reconstruction of Marawi should go along with psychological and social healing for affected residents.
“We are not just reconstructing buildings that were damaged. The more important part is reconstructing broken relationships, social healing in removing the anger. We cannot just do it by stroking of our hands or mere talking,” Dureza said.
Dureza said there is a need to address this to avoid ‘rido’ or clan wars among the survivors of the five-month-long siege by the Abu Sayyaf and Maute terror groups.
“If we cannot attend this, it will create pockets of violence not with government but among the peaceful people,” Dureza said.
Dureza said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process had already taken steps towards this even while the conflict was ongoing by talking to the evacuees and holding listening sessions for them to express their anger and tell their stories.
He admitted the recovery process is slow. “We cannot just do it immediately.”
Dureza said part of the social healing is looking at the accountability of the people who triggered the conflict.
“After things have already settled down, there must be accountability already. There will be no total healing if we cannot pinpoint why it happened and why others did this and did not do that,” Dureza added.
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