As the rubble and ruins of a city considered as the heartthrob of Islam in the country loom in the background, the lyrics of the theme song from the old war-time movie “Exodus” (starred in by Oscar awardee Paul Newman and Eva Marie-Saint) ring loudly in my ears: “This land is mine, God gave this land to me. This land, this golden land to me…Now I see a land where children can run free.”
Several days ago, Marawi has been declared liberated by no less than Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in a scene reminiscent of triumphant flag-planting in Iwo Jima.
Amidst cheers and tears of hundreds of men and women in uniform, the Chief Executive, likewise clad in soldier’s attire, personally announced in a short but terse, emotion-filled speech, that the long-drawn out battle is over.
The victory over the ISIS-connected rebellion authored by local Islamic terrorists Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute group led by brothers Omar and Abdullah is a triumph of the human spirit, a resilience nurtured by the innate goodness that resides within the Filipino.
That these rebel leaders, slippery as eels, have been finally slain by AFP sniper fire is credited to the excellent tactical moves employed by the Joint Task Force Ranao commanders. Another important man in the hierarchy was a Malaysian known as Dr. Mahmoud Ahmad who was also discovered among those killed.
Five months of heavy fighting have resulted in big casualties in both sides, almost by the ratio of 6 dead terrorists to 1 AFP combatant. But however much we rationalize the results, it cannot be equated to the pain and heartaches suffered by the orphaned families of AFP personnel who fought and fell.
From hindsight, one can now clearly conclude that the Marawi conflict was a plan well-hatched long ago with the guidance and financial support of the jihadist ISIS movement based in Syria and Iraq.
Hapilon happily moved from his original Sulu and Basilan lairs as Abu Sayaf chieftain to accept his appointment as the “Emir” for the Southeast Asia region with a caliphate based in Mindanao. Uniting with the Maute group, the ISIS-led terrorists conveniently thought Marawi was the best site to launch its evil, destructive schemes.
They were correct. Marawi was indeed an ideal habitation as the presence of Isnilon and company in the city seemed to have been completely ignored by the populace and, as proven by gathered and collated military evidence, even by some leaders in government.
Thus, so much freedom in movement enabled the ISIS conspirators to stash an arsenal of military hardware and ammunition in collusion with unidentified supporters in the area that helped them waged a bloody and protracted war against the Philippine government.
But we are not hearing any congratulatory greetings from the LPs and the ragtag political opposition. In particular, there is no sincere reaching-out efforts from VP Leni. I am inclined to believe that they (the Yellows) are sadder that the terrorists have been defeated. They are even sadder that Hapilon and the Maute brothers are no longer around to help them badger and bother Digong Duterete no end.
If one plus one equals two, logic will tell us indeed that the downfall of the Duterte government is a chief objective – if NOT THE objective – of those who do not relish the governance style of the present regime.
It is difficult to fathom people.
But in the political reality of our times, it is easy to pinpoint those who are with you and those who are against you, right?
At this juncture, I am tempted to quote the great emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, who said: “My concern is not whether God is on our side; My greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
Ah, the triumph of the human spirit, indeed. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Joshua 24:29: “After these things, Joshua, son of Nunn, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
