For
years, students at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City have
witnessed several killings that remain unsolved, and justice has never
been served. This is romanticized by many, as the university is a place
where tri-people exist and live in harmony. However, it has become a
myth for everyone as blood continues to spill inside the campus and
always swipes them with rewards to divert the attention of the public.
The infamous case of Ivan Almeda in 2019 was a culture of impunity and injustice. He was shot by an unidentified gunman, and the motive behind the murder is still unclear despite the existence of Martial Law in Mindanao at that time. In 2021, Omar Zinal and Hamzah Rauf were killed on their way to the dormitories, and their families and friends were still waiting for justice. And now, the bombing attack at the Dimaporo Gymnasium has resulted in (4) casualties and at least (46) forty-six injuries that shocked the whole MSU community.
The bombing incident contributed to the university's long history of injustices, which started in 2008. Including the tragic murder and killing of Jobert Algoso, Prof. Othello Cobal, Erwin Diaz, Samuel Go III, and Chris Lane Mansacay. These killings and other crimes only received condemnation, which destroyed the peace and tranquility of the institution. Contrary to the mandate of the university as a national peace university, many forms of inhumane acts have been committed and tolerated even up to these days.
To describe what exactly happened to the victims, they were massacred with an improvised explosive device planted at the beginning of the congregational mass prayer of the Catholic Students Organization (CSO). Students, faculty, and other constituents of the university attend the mass to worship God, seeking help and blessing as Christmas is on the horizon. They received a warning from their friends, who were concerned that they shouldn't go because something would happen to them. However, they should not be blamed because Sunday mass has been a tradition on campus for a decade now.
Aside from CSO, there are many religious organizations and institutions inside the university composed of students, faculty, and civilians to continue their beliefs and practices as they call MSU their second home. Given that they have to travel several hours to experience life at MSU and have free access to quality education, students have already tested their commitment to study and achieve their dreams at the university. Thus, MSU should be heaven-safe for them during their stay on campus, providing them with an inclusive and healthy learning environment free from war and violence.
After the incident, MSU will always be the same, but the one we loved will never be the same again. The trauma that has brought us to fear our dear university is not easy, as we lost the lives of our fellow students, mentors, and friends in the most tragic way we could ever imagine. The fear of coming home to campus should not be a question. However, the real questions here are, how is it possible that this will never happen again? How can we trust your words if you fail to save others? Is the bombing attack a joke? This was what our officials and other agencies of our government should be answering instead of planning the return of the students.
As history repeats itself, MSU will always be the same. From the release of condemnation statements to providing assistance to the families and relatives of the victims; holding a rally to mobilize people online as a collective action; and promising safety and security to the students to the revolutionary reactions of the different officials and agencies, these will only last for days, weeks, and months, as long as the latter is a hot topic in the town. But after people mourn and choose to move on, it seems nothing happens to the lives and dreams of the students because someone decides to take them.
This entails that it is a disease we call the culture of impunity and injustice that runs in our veins and has been perpetuated throughout the years. As we become immune to its rapid mutation, fatality increases as morality and humanity decrease in the eyes of the students. To date its roots, it was way back when MSU gave occupation to people, allowing them to acquire the land without foreseeing its future implications. This is when MSU transitioned from a university in a community into a community inside a university which put the security of its constituents in peril. Since then, the safety of the students, faculty, and other staff has never been achieved.
To cure this disease, we must uphold that there is no one above the law, and anyone who commits a crime against any individual or group will be held accountable and responsible in the name of justice. This should start within our system as we call out our leaders for their neglectful response and the reforming of the system itself. The enforcement of the law within or even beyond our vicinity should be monitored and executed accordingly. Our students should be our number one priority in all of the events, especially their safety inside the campus, by deploying competent security personnel, installing advanced multiple functional surveillance, and tightening its security measures.
We call on the Marcos Administration and its armed mechanisms to go beyond condemnation, take an immediate response to the victims, and ensure that justice will be served this time. Similar to the local governments of Marawi and Lanao del Sur as well as the Mindanao State University System, do their mandate now more than ever. To our fellow students, teachers, and friends, we urge you to stand in solidarity with the victims as we demand justice. We will never forget what happened during the bombing attack at the gymnasium. We will always remember that this is an attack on humanity.
We demand security, peace, and justice for all.
Written by Abdul Hafiz Malawani
Cartoon by Fathmah Imam Sarangani
Layout by Xandryl Saycon
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