The Issue:

Since the 2017 Marawi Siege, tens of thousands of Marawi’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain without stable homes. Eight years after the end of the siege, approximately 83,335 individuals still endure precarious living conditions in temporary shelters or with relatives across the country. Despite government pledges, only a fraction of the promised reconstruction has been completed, and Marawi’s Most Affected Area (MAA) remains largely inaccessible to former residents.

The Marawi IDPs face dire conditions daily, from inadequate access to clean water, healthcare, and education, to constant threats of eviction from temporary shelters. Prolonged displacement, compounded by pandemic challenges, has deepened economic hardship and diminished the quality of life. Additionally, the ongoing redevelopment fails to address the IDPs’ cultural needs, leaving many feeling alienated from their own city.

Watch: Bahay na Walang Buhay (Lifeless Homes)

 

Our Demands:

We call upon Committee of the Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon) Committee, to initiate an independent inquiry into the Marawi Siege and its rehabilitation process. Transparency and accountability are crucial to restoring the dignity of the IDPs - including the propertyless and ensuring they receive comprehensive reparations that acknowledge their losses and the human rights violations they endured.

Moreover, we call on the government to prioritize the rights and dignity of Marawi’s displaced citizens by:

1. Ensuring a safe, swift, and dignified return for all Marawi IDPs, allowing them to rebuild their lives in their rightful home.
2. Fostering an inclusive rehabilitation process, where IDPs are represented and actively participate in planning and decision-making.
3. Halting the eviction from temporary shelters and providing immediate support and resources for basic necessities like water, food, healthcare, and educational services.
4. Enacting comprehensive reparation policies that acknowledge the losses and rights violations suffered by Marawi’s IDPs.
5. Passing legislation that guarantees the rights and protection of all IDPs to prevent arbitrary displacement in the future.

 

Why This Matters:
Marawi’s displaced people deserve justice, dignity, and the right to return home. Sustainable peace and healing in Marawi cannot be achieved without addressing the root causes of this prolonged crisis and upholding the rights of those affected.

Sign the Petition:
Join us in supporting the Marawi IDPs’ call for justice, accountability, and human dignity. Demand a people-centered approach to rehabilitation that respects the rights and cultural heritage of Marawi’s residents. Sign now to support a just and dignified return for Marawi’s IDPs. 

Together, let’s call for Justice for Marawi, Justice for All!

 

SUPPORTERS:

1. Archbishop Jose S. Palma, DD, Archbishop of Cebu

2. Imam Najeeb M. Razul, Chairperson, Muslim Council of Leaders Visayas (Region 6, 7 & 8)

3. Fr. Jose S. Bagadiong, Jr., SVD, Chairperson, Association of Men Religious and Mission Societies of Cebu (AMRAMSOC)

4.  Sr. Maricor V. Talay, MCST, Chairperson, Association of Consecrated Women of Cebu (ACWC) formerly AWROC

5. Rev. Fr. Alvin C. Raypan, Chairman, Commission on Inter-Faith Dialogue, Archdiocese of Cebu

6. Abraham Rey Montecillo Acosta, Chairperson, Free Legal Assistance Group – Cebu

7. Most Rev. Arturo Bastes, DD, SVD, Bishop Emeritus of Sorsogon

8. Sr. Evangelina M. Labanda, SFIC, Provincial Superior in the South, SFIC

9. Sr. Estela Parmisano, SSpS, Provincial Superior, Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS)

10. Rev. Fr. Edilberto B. Cepe, CSsR, Provincial Superior, Redemptorist, Province of Cebu

11. Sr. Maureen Cariaga, Officer, Association of Consecrated Women of Cebu (ACWC) formerly AWROC

12. Fr. Romeo Cagatin, SVD, Coordinator, SVD-PHS JPIC

13.  Sr. Sandra Clemente, RSCJ, Inter-Faith Advocate

14. Filipina B. Sotto, Ph.D., Chairperson, Visayas Disaster-Risk Reduction Network (VDRN)

15. Emalyn M. Aliviano, Spokesperson, Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KILUSAN Cebu)