Remembering the Missing from Marawi Conflict
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unveiled a poignant tribute through a coffee table book titled The Book of Memories to honor the persons who went missing during the five-month Marawi City war in 2017. This 77-page publication aims to preserve the stories and memories of the missing, ensuring their legacy endures.
The Book of Memories was formally launched in Iligan City alongside a photo exhibit highlighting the faces and stories of those lost. Officials reported that the project seeks to amplify the voices of families affected by the conflict, which was ignited by militants linked to the Islamic State.
Exhibit Highlights Fragility and Resilience
The photo exhibit, open to the public at Robinsons Mall in Iligan City until August 30, International Day of the Disappeared, uses skeletal house frames as a powerful visual metaphor. Community members noted these frames symbolize the delicate balance between destruction and the ongoing process of rebuilding within the affected communities.
Approximately 300 attendees from across Mindanao gathered for the launch, providing an opportunity for dialogue with authorities including the Marawi Compensation Board and the Philippine National Police-Forensic Group. This forum allowed families to share their experiences and challenges in seeking justice and closure.
Families Speak on Ongoing Struggles
Representatives from the families of the missing expressed the persistent difficulties they face. They highlighted obstacles in securing legal documents necessary for social benefits, pensions, and property rights. One family member remarked, “We hope that the government could help all families of the missing, whether financially or through other means. There are so many of their children who cannot go to school. And the government should help all families, whether they are Muslims or Christians.”
Local leaders revealed the Lanao del Sur provincial government has established a technical working group dedicated to identifying and documenting human remains in the Maqbara cemetery. This initiative aims to provide reassurance to families that their loved ones have not been forgotten despite the complexities of the identification process.
Positive Identification and Compensation Calls
Families urged authorities to reconsider denied compensation claims and to disclose any positive identifications of unnamed cadavers interred at Marawi cemeteries. Their plea reflects a deep yearning for answers and official recognition.
Sources confirmed the ICRC has registered over 300 missing person cases related to the Marawi conflict. Through The Book of Memories, affected families share intimate stories and their relentless search for truth. Filipino photojournalist Larry Monserate Piojo documented the portraits of these families alongside treasured belongings of their missing relatives, capturing their enduring hope.
ICRC Emphasizes Continued Efforts
Johannes Bruwer, head of the ICRC delegation in the Philippines, highlighted the resilience of families eight years after their loss. He stated, “While we believe that the authorities are working on clarifying the fate of the missing, continued effort will be needed to reach a conclusion.”
International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols to which the Philippines is a signatory, enshrines the obligation to account for missing persons. This commitment underscores the importance of ongoing initiatives like The Book of Memories.
For more news and updates on Marawi missing persons, visit Filipinokami.com.
