MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Amidst the intensive effort of pushing the national government to finally execute the payment of lives and properties lost during the Marawi siege in 2017, the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) firmly maintained its support for the implementation of the provisions of the Republic Act No. 11696, otherwise known as the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022.

The law, which was enacted by then-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte before his exit, is seen to realize the appropriation for the victims of the warfare in the city here in 2017 whose properties were wrecked while some suffered agony with the passing of their loved ones.

BHRC Chairperson Lawyer Abdul Rashid Kalim underscored that they look forward to the compensation act delivering justice to affected people who were impacted by the tragic firefight, thus, his assertion that it is then vital to craft a well-thought Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) that shall embrace the concerns of the community and its various stakeholders.

“As the independent human rights institution, we express our fullest support to the Marawi Compensation Law as it is but a representation of the government’s commitment to uphold the human rights of our fellow Bangsa Maranao constituents who were affected by the 2017 Marawi siege,” he said in his relayed message during the stakeholders consultation led by the provincial government of Lanao del Sur Tuesday, October 11.

Kalim stressed that the drafted IRR would likewise provide a significant move for the attainment of the longed healing which shall be paving the way for the full restoration of the city.

As such, he highlighted that it is just appropriate and a good strategy that even in the beginning, there is the involvement of the beneficiaries themselves, personalities who will most likely take part in the enforcement, and those who will be affected by it.

“It is important to let the people of Marawi have the ownership of the process…The IRR will serve to give us a step ahead toward achieving reparation, and hopefully, toward bringing back the former glory of Marawi City,” said Kalim. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)