Cebu Imam hopes to see new, beautiful Marawi

“I once studied there (MSU). Hindi naman siguro i-open ang MSU kung hindi pa secure (They would not open MSU if it’s still not secured),” Helmie said. (Photo By Own Work – Own work, Public Domain)

CEBU CITY— A young Imam (Islamic leader) hopes to see a cleaner and beautiful Marawi in the future after President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to rebuild the city following the devastation brought about by the almost five-month battle with terrorists.

Twenty-nine-year-old Imam Mohamad Helmie of the Al-Khairiah Mosque here in Cebu City told the Philippine News Agency on Saturday he believes in the President’s sincerity when he promised to make the city rise from the ruins of the armed conflict.

“First of all, on behalf of the Muslim community in Cebu, I would like to thank President Duterte for his grand plan to rehabilitate Marawi,” Helmie said. “Of course, everybody has his own opinion, but I believe the President will give so much effort in the rebuilding just as he did in the quashing of the terroristic movement in Marawi.”

“Marami ang pasasalamat namin sa kanya. Gawin nya ang lahat na nararapat gawin para ibangon muli ang Marawi (Our many thanks to the President. He should do whatever must be done to rehabilitate Marawi),” Helmie added.

He also expressed joy that the Mindanao State University (MSU) has reopened, saying that this is a sign that peace in Marawi has returned.

“I once studied there (MSU). Hindi naman siguro i-open ang MSU kung hindi pa secure (They would not open MSU if it’s still not secured),” Helmie said.

However, the young Imam still has reservations on the security and safety in Marawi.

“Dapat siguraduhing malinis na ang Marawi. Siguraduhing wala nang manggugulo, na wala ng mga teroristang natira before nila i-rehabilitate ang city (They should make sure that Marawi is cleansed from any troublemakers, no more terrorists left before they rehabilitate the city),” he said.