Some 40 residents from war-torn Marawi City in Lanao Del Sur who fled due to military offensives against Maute Terror Group have found refuge in Davao City.
Davao City Deput Mayor for the Maranao Tribe Randy Usman confirmed the report on Wednesday.
Usman said the 40 evacuees 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 for the people of Marawi because, according to their culture, they seek refuge with their relatives instead of staying in evacuation centers.
“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 the arrival of the dislocated Marawi residents, his office took information from these people and told the requirements they need to comply while in the city.
He assured that these people will not make any trouble here in the city.
“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 because of their difficult experience.
“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.
He said even Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio already expressed that the city will accommodate evacuees from Marawi City.
