MARAWI, Philippines – There is little trace of the blood-drenched former battleground where the Daesh-inspired Maute group made their last stand against government forces in the Padian area eight years ago.
Many of the bombed-out buildings, blood-soaked mud, and stench of gunpowder have been replaced by newly constructed government facilities, including the Sarimanok Sports Stadium, a convention center, and paved roads that now run through what were once debris-filled streets.
New barangay complexes were built for East Marinaut, Banggolo, Lumbaya Madaya, and Dansalan. Even the ruins of Bato Ali Mosque – where the Maute militants held Catholic priest Father Teresito “Chito” Suganob and other hostages – have been replaced with a new structure. Its bullet-riddled minaret was transferred to the nearby Rizal Park in Barangay Dansalan and now stands as the centerpiece of the Marawi Peace Memorial Park, a tribute to the people’s perseverance and a symbol of hope for the city’s future.
But Amenodin Cali, executive director of the mon-governmental organization Kalimudan sa Ranao Foundation, said that while the government completed the construction of facilities in 2023, many remain empty and inaccessible to residents.
“Many residents, especially those from the Padian area, found their houses and properties replaced by these government buildings,” Cali said.
Before the Marawi siege, the Padian area was a bustling public market filled with stores and shoppers, he recalled.
Beyond reclaiming their properties, residents are troubled by the slow and tedious process of securing compensation from the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB).
“We are also concerned about the recent leadership change at the MCB. What does it mean for us?” he said.
In a Facebook post on May 22, the MCB said it has disbursed P1.93 billion to 1,124 claimants since it began processing structural and personal property claims in 2024.
On March 26, former Commission on Elections commissioner and regional trial court judge Moslimen Macarambon Sr. assumed the chairmanship of the MCB, replacing lawyer Maisara Dandamun-Latiph, an appointee of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that more than 8,200 people still live in inadequate conditions in temporary shelters scattered across Marawi City.
Drieza Lininding, head of the Moro Consensus Group, called on government agencies and NGOs to revisit Marawi City and review the MCB’s implementation and the current situation of displaced residents.
Lininding said frustration is mounting over how agencies under the Marcos administration are addressing the concerns of Marawi’s displaced communities.
Johannes Bruwer, head of the ICRC in Manila, said many residents lack access to clean water and are now paying rent after government lease agreements with landowners expired.
“Many families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are now paying rent for their shelters, adding immense strain to their lives,” Bruwer said.
He urged newly elected officials and concerned agencies to accelerate rebuilding efforts and provide essential services to the displaced.
“Eight years is a long time. People have been displaced for far too long. Returning to their neighborhoods is a step toward normalcy and a necessary part of their healing,” he added. – Rappler.com