LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown…” (Revelation 2:10, the Holy Bible).
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REBELLION IS WRITTEN ALL OVER THE MARAWI CITY SIEGE: Is there—or is there no—actual rebellion in the on-going Marawi City siege? That was a highly legitimate question that Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio raised during the first day of the scheduled three-day oral arguments on petitions questioning the factual basis of President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Now, how do we answer that kind of a question? By looking into the facts that prompted President Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao and to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the region, of course.
What are the facts? From available records and accounts, here are the facts: Marawi City was overrun by Filipino and foreign terrorists who have earlier pledged their loyalty and allegiance to the terror organization that is called the ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
They bombed and killed, and burned edifices, as they blitzkriegged their way into the city, using imported and therefore highly sophisticated firearms, and then hoisted the ISIS flag to claim Marawi City for ISIS. They then set prisoners free from the city jail, destroyed a Catholic church and razed it to the ground, seizing and holding as hostages the parish priest and some parishioners of the church up to now.
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WHAT IS ISIS AND WHY IS IT TRYING TO CONTROL MINDANAO? What is ISIS and why is it attempting to take control of Marawi City and of Mindanao?
Available records, from the government and from media, will show that ISIS was formed in 2014 after some members of the Al Qaeda terrorist group in Iraq broke away from Al Qaeda, moved to Syria, and then formed ISIS. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is recognized as the present head, or caliph, of ISIS. Under his leadership, the Islamic State or Khalifa in Syria and Iraq was established.
Becoming a member of the Khalifa or caliphate would require a mujahideen, or a Muslim who claim to be a warrior for the faith, to pledge his allegiance to the caliph, al-Baghdadi. On account of this pledge of allegiance, the mujahideen subjects himself to the control and authority of the caliph.
The avowed objective of ISIS is to impose its rule worldwide. It does this by capturing and then running territories. The territories are organized into a caliphate, which is in turn divided into different wilayat, or different provinces led by a wali, who is assisted by officers of his own choice to run the wali. He is also funded by ISIS to allow the wilayah to operate. There will be more of this next issue, God willing.
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WATCH “ANG TANGING DAAN” AT FACEBOOK: Please watch “Ang Tanging Daan”, a Bible exposition and prayer session for everyone, in English and Filipino, at www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan. Reactions: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.
