DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Around 40 residents from Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur sough refuge here due to the military offensives against Maute Terror Group.
Maranaw tribe Deputy Mayor Randy Usman confirmed the arrival of the internal refugees here.
The refugees are now living with their relatives in Barangay 23- C in Quezon Boulevard and Barangay Sasa.
“Hindi naman sinasabi na nag evacuate sila pero dun sila tumira sa mga kamag-anak nila (We cannot say that they are evacuating here in Davao City because they are living with their relatives),” he said.
He said the first batch arrived in the city last May 24 and other batch arrived on May 25.
Usman clarified that there will be no evacuation area intended from the people of Marawi because part of their culture not stay at the evacuation center, instead they just seek refuge from their relatives.
“We don’t have an evacuation center because the Maranao people have a pride and they just want to go to their relatives to find refuge,” he said.
Usman said upon their arrival, they were asked to submit personal information to the respective villages for the city to be aware of their identities and existence as he assured Davao people the refugees will not cause problem here.
“Alam mo naman sa Davao, ang mga pumumupunta dito ay mga law abiding citizens. Sa tagal ko dito sa Davao, wala naman sigurong mga tao na pupunta dito para sirain ang Davo City (You know that in Davao, all peopel going here are law abiding citizens. For many years that I live here, maybe no people will go here just to destroy Davao City),” he said.
Usman said the other deputy mayors from the Muslim community have a constant dialogue with its leaders to ensure that the city will not be infiltrated by people who have sinister plot against the government.
“From time to time we are coordinating all the leader from the Muslim Communities,” he said.
Usman also appealed to all Muslims and non-Muslim people to welcome these displaced families in the city as the crisis in Marawi stand still.
“We cannot discourage the people to receive the evacuees, instead, they should welcome them because they experience the trauma while the war took place in their area,” he said.
Uzman added Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio opened her doors to law abiding citizens.-Armando B. Fenequito Jr./Bewsline.ph
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