“Napakabait po nila sa amin. Kinupkop nila kami dito sa Manila habang may gulo sa Marawi. Bukod sa tumupad sila sa pangakong pera pag nag-rally kami, binigyan pa kami ng bigas, de lata, at mga masasarap na pagkain di pa namin natitikman.” Jaime Bantilan, who acted as the leader of ‘bakwit’ protesters, exclusively tells Philippine News Courier.
Bantilan, 47, who admitted that he cannot read and write, did not mention the names of the militant groups that helped them. However, he said he saw their leaders while watching news on TV in a small apartment in Quiapo, where they were brought from an evacuation center in Iligan City. He added they were offered a decent job in Manila.
“Sabi ko po sa kanila, di ko naman naiintindihan yung Martial Law at epekto nito sa amin sa Mindanao. Tapos, ipinaliwanag nila na makakasama daw ito sa amin kasi daw, tatanggalin kami ng mga karapatan ng ating gobyerno, at basta na lang daw huhulihin kahit walang kasalanan.” He added, saying that this is why they agreed to protest.
Apparently, Bantilan’s group is only among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Mindanao after the Maute group attacked Marawi last May. The ‘bakwit’ leader said he and his family don’t have plans of returning to Marawi anymore, even if the terrorist leaders have been killed. Besides the fact that their house was ruined, he said he feels safer living in Manila.
Bantilan said he was told that the government’s rehabilitation projects of Marawi will take some time, and that some corrupt officials will only take advantage of it. He said that joining protest rallies against President Duterte is helping them survive in their daily needs, and that he will not stop as long as the militant groups are taking good care of them.
Contributed by Renato Pasayao
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