UNIVERSITY officials and constituents of Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi said that the presence of the military in the campus is highly needed, especially after the siege in Marawi City last year.
Aliah Cali-Pascan, presidential management services director, said that the MSU-Marawi administration assured the students in the university freshmen and new student orientation, Thursday, August 16, of the security measures that MSU-Marawi and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had already implemented.
“Under the law, military personnel should stay away from an academic institution. However, in Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi, we are still through the processes of liberating from the Isis,” said Usman Aragasi, the University and the Board of Regents secretary, about the military presence in the campus.
Aragasi said that military checkpoints cover the Piagapo and main entrance of the University.
They have also collaborated with the university’s security division.
Limitations to the military personnel in MSU
“The presence of the military [in MSU Marawi] is [meant] to provide security and rapport to the university,” Aragasi told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.
However, he also said that the university and the military had an agreement to where the personnel are allowed to roam or stay.
Part of the agreement states that the military cannot be in academic buildings in order to avoid intimidating the university constituents. They can only be seen in the streets of the campus, as well as in the university commercial center, but only to purchase some of their personal needs.
However, whenever the military will have orientations, public affairs programs, or other events, they request the use of the University’s Charm Pavilion because there are no other venues available in Marawi City, Aragasi said.
Cali-Pascan also said that female soldiers were invited to assist in the conduct of the enrolment in the campus since the first week of August called “Hijab Troopers” in response to the panic caused by the talks about the false kidnapping incidents in the campus.
The female military personnel wore veils during the event.
Aragasi said that there have been no recent reports of student harassment in the campus committed by any personnel nor were there any protests against their presence so far.
Approval in the military presence
“It’s reassuring, to be honest,” said Jake Doloricon, an Education major, about the military presence in MSU Marawi. “They do not really intimidate people inside the campus because of the fact that we are already oriented with the way of living in MSU like having 8pm curfews. We are not even bothered with military tanks wandering around the streets of the campus.”
Jake added that he is bothered by the misconception of the people outside Marawi about the military presence in the campus.
“They don’t even bother to ask the people who have the first-hand experience about the situation [in the campus],” Jake further said.
Dr. Mahid Mangontarun, a professor in the Mathematics Department and special assistant in MSU’s Office of the President, said that even though it was martial Law, they did not think that the military personnel in the campus were abusive because the university listened immediately to the protocols given by the armed forces.
“Dati, nung kasagsagan ng gyera, nakikinig ang both parties sa kung ano ang suggestion ng bawat isa (During the heat of the Marawi siege, the military and the MSU administration listened to the suggestions of one another),” Mangontarum said.
“Paunti-unti, pinapaintindi naming sa kanila (military) ang importance ng role ng MSU sa pag-promote ng peace and development sa Mindanao at ang mutual understanding between people from different cultures and religions. Hanggang umabot sa time na very supportive na rin sila sa mga programa natin (MSU Marawi). Most of the time, sila pa yung nagvo-volunteer tumulong (Little by little, we impressed to the military the important role of MSU in promoting peace and development in Mindanao as well as the need for mutual understanding among people of different cultures and religions. The time finally came when they became supportive of MSU’s programs. Most of the time, they would even volunteer to help,” he continued.
Some of these activities were the Brigada Eskwela in MSU sponsored by the military last year.
Manguntarum said that the officials became teary-eyed with the support of the military to the Institution. “Napakalaki talaga ng utang ng loob ng MSU sa mga military (MSU is highly indebted to the military).”
He also said that after the war, the number of personnel in the campus was ordered to be reduced to also minimize their presence in the campus.
However, in a university officials’ meeting with Colonel Rosendo Abad, it was announced that more military personnel will be sent to the campus to strengthen the security measures in the campus. (Riz P. Sunio)