LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves…” (Romans 13:2, the Holy Bible).
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WHO REALLY STARTED THE MARAWI CITY SIEGE? An intriguing issue that is being thrown against the declaration by President Duterte of martial law in Mindanao is the claim that it was the government itself that started the firefight in Marawi City, forcing terror groups led by Isnilon Hapilon to simply fight back.
In other words, the claim was that it was the fault of the government itself that caused the siege. Solicitor General Jose Calida and his lawyers at the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) believe otherwise.
In their comment to the Supreme Court petitions questioning the declaration of martial law in the South, Calida and company presented proof that Hapilon and his followers, who have since shifted their loyalty away from the Republic of the Philippines in favor of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), prepared for the siege of Marawi City as a necessary ingredient for turning over the whole of Mindanao to the ISIS.
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OSG: TERROR GROUPS INCREASED ATTACKS SINCE 2016: Let us reproduce here parts of the OSG’s comment for a better understanding of this point: “After the ISIS appointment of Hapilon as emir, he and the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups committed multiple atrocities resulting in the wounding and killing of military and civilian personalities.
“These atrocities came in the wake of the consolidation of forces of around one hundred five (105) rebel members of the combined groups of the Abu Sayyaf, the Maute Group, the BIFF, and foreign terrorists.
“The government has noted the increased occurrences of military encounters with these ISIS-inspired local rebel groups. One of these battles occurred on 29 August 2016 when members of the ASG ambushed and killed fifteen (15) army soldiers in Patikul, Sulu. Moreover, there was a notable increase in terror attacks against the civilian population…
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“STATE OF LAWLESSNESS” DECLARED IN MINDANAO IN 2016: Here’s more from Calida’s comment: “On the night of 2 September 2016, Davao City was rocked with a fatal bombing incident in a populous night market. Fifteen (15) civilians were killed and sixty-seven (67) others were injured. According to military intelligence reports, the ASG perpetrated the Davao bombing.
“Due to the then-increasing concerted attacks against the military and the populace… President Duterte issued Proclamation No. 55 entitled, `Declaring a State of National Emergency on Account of Lawless Violence in Mindanao’ on 4 September 2016.
“He acted pursuant to Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution which authorized him to call out the armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence.
Notwithstanding the issuance of Proclamation No. 55, the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups continued to wreak havoc in Mindanao…” There is 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.
