Regional Vice Governor of ARMM.

Had he been given the chance to speak yesterday at Congress...

"I am Haroun Alrashid Alonto Lucman Jr.
Regional Vice Governor of ARMM.

I speak before you as a Maranao and for my people who are directly affected by the Marawi siege.

From day 1 of the siege, I was in Marawi as instructed by our Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, to give the assessment to the ARMM gov't so that the regional gov't are properly guided in acting upon the situation.
Let me first be clear on the position of the ARMM gov't on these terror groups; we support the military campaign against them and we want them completely neutralized. We must not allow them to regroup and sow terror in our lands. ISIS is against humanity as a whole and humanity must unite in fighting them.

According to the NEOC, the number of IDPs has already reached 527 thousand individuals. This number has surpassed the actual population of Marawi City which is 207 thousand persons. The reason is that even those in the municipalities of the province have fled to other areas outside of Lanao. Some for economic reason, but many because of fear of Martial Law.

Martial Law to us is repressive, abusive, and dehumanizing. That is the Martial law that we suffered during the Marcos rule. Our people fear it and abhor it. On the other hand, our military men like Gen. Carlito Galvez, Gen. Bautista, and Gen. Rey are doing well in confronting these terror groups. According to our very own SND, Lorenzana, just a while ago, very few remain of the Maute group fighting our military men and they have substantially weakened. They can very deal with these remaining force without the need of extending ML.

I have no problem with Martial Law. I know my rights under its rule. But our people fled as far away as they can and scattered in many places because they fear Martial Law.
Yesterday, the Manila police rounded up Muslim boys in Quiapo for questioning because according to sources they carry no identification cards. It's hard enough being an IDP. It's doubly hard living in a place not your own and suspected of being a terrorist.

Your honors, whatever your decision here, please feel our people's sentiments. WE WANT TO GO HOME.
LANAO IS THE ONLY PLACE WE WANT TO BE.
PLEASE BRING US BACK HOME.

Thank you."

Addendum: This picture was taken yesterday while he was writing his speech at the Congress. He was there, waiting for his chance to speak in behalf of us Maranaos. But he was not given the chance. Posting this speech was not meant for his personal publicity, and besides, this was posted per demand. This was meant to give us hope. This was meant to make us, Maranaos, somehow feel assured that our public officials (or atleast some) are not abandoning us. And maybe, through this post, our sentiments will reach those who are in the higher ups. We are all in this together! So instead of you throwing all the negative comments regarding this post, think again. Not everything is about "politics". Too much negativity kills. Thank you.

Photo c/o Momoy Macaraya

jsbraza/iligan