Marawi City cracks down on criminality

MARAWI CITY – As part of its renewed crackdown on criminality, the city government has closed billiard halls and totally banned any form of gambling, drinking of liquor, pornography and public display of homosexuality.

City officials led by Mayor Omar Solitario Ali came up with these measures following a meeting Thursday with police and military officials, prosecutors and judges, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority, and ulamas (Islamic preachers).

"We are starting a crackdown and have already closed all billiard halls in this city and destroyed about 60 video karera machines because these are forms of gambling that are forbidden in Islam," Ali said.

Although there were no recent incidents of kidnappings and car theft, Ali said they have beefed up the communication lines of the sectors involved in the crackdown, which also involves efforts against the transport of illegal firearms and prohibited drugs.

Two years ago, Ali strictly imposed a city ordinance prohibiting the public display of homosexuality through make-up or wearing of women’s attire.

Muslim women were also ordered to follow a dress code and avoid "sexy attire."

Although there were no statistics presented during the meeting, authorities said this city and Lanao del Sur are generally peaceful.

However, Ali bewailed the delay in the filing of cases against suspected criminals due to the lack of witnesses and the absence of a crime laboratory.

In another development, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, commander of the Joint Task Force Ranao which supervises the two Marine brigades here and in the two Lanao provinces, denied that the Marines will be reassigned elsewhere.

He said the Marines will remain in this city, Lanao del Norte and the first district of Lanao del Sur, although part of Lanao del Sur’s second district will be under the Army’s jurisdiction.