Robin Padilla leads launch of ‘Tindig Marawi’

Mindanao peace advocate and actor Robin Padilla on Thursday spearheaded the launch of a new movement aimed at helping the government to rebuild the war-torn city of Marawi and provide support to its residents.

Dubbed as "Tindig Marawi," Padilla, who recently donated P5 million for the psycho-social intervention of the children in Marawi and personally distributed P5 million worth of relief goods to displaced families, said  it's time to end politicking as more than 390,000 residents of Marawi need assistance.

"Tigilan po muna natin 'yung kulay ganito ako, kulay ganon... Hindi tayo pwedeng parang sa Zamboanga," he said in a press conference at Ilustrado restaurant in Intramuros, Manila

Padilla said he is hoping to get support from the private individuals, corporations and organizations to support them in rebuilding Marawi.

"llang beses din akong nakabisita sa Marawi kahit sa kasagsagan ng digmaan. Nakita ko po kung gaano kalawak ang pinsala na dinala ng Marawi siege. Napakarami po nating kapatid na Maranao at Kristiyano sa Marawi ang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay, nawalan ng bahay at nawalan ng hanapbuhay," he said.

"Ang pagtulong po sa muling pagbangon ng Marawi ay hindi kakayanin ng ilang tao lamang. Hindi ito kakayanin ng isang organisasyon o korporasyon, hindi po ito kakayaning mag-isa ng pamhaalaan. Kailangan po ang tulong ng ating lahat para matulungan ang Marawi na bumangong muli. Iyan po ang dahilan kung bakit ko itinatag ang Tindig Marawi," Padilla added,

Padilla said despite the end of hostilities in Marawi, the "battle" on rebuilding lives has just started.

"Yung Marawi, reyalidad ng buhay. Namatay yung terorista, namatay yung leader pero wala masyadong nag-share paanong rehabilitasyon ang ating gagawin," he said.

"Nagtanim tayo ng takot sa mga bata. Nasaan ngayon ang pangarap nila? Ang kaakibat noon walang trabaho, wala sila kahit singko dahil ang sinabi sa kanila tatlong araw lang sila mawawala sa bahay nila," he added.

LOOK: Robin Padilla leads launching of “Tindig Marawi” @gmanews pic.twitter.com/Fm44f6xJx4

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) October 26, 2017

LOOK: Tindig Marawi memorandum of understanding signing pic.twitter.com/S0qqayYZnA

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) October 26, 2017

Padilla, who is a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said that the new movement is not politically-motivated as he also urged members of the Liberal Party to join them.

"Kami po dito ngayon ay handa po kami makipagkamayan sa mga dilaw, wala hong problema doon kung handa sila tumulong, handa sila magbigay puputahan ko pa sila at makikipagkamay ako sa kanila para malaman nila na walang politika dito at ito future ng Pilipinas ang tinitingnan natin dito," he added.

He added that "politicking" had contributed to the entry of terrorism in the country.

"Kaya nga nangyari 'to dahil sumobra na tayo sa politika, sumobra na tayo sa dami ng pangako sa mga taong ito at sa sobrang daming napako, kaya itong terorismo nakapasok. Tandaan po natin foreigner ito, hindi ito Pilipino," Padilla said.

"We are under, I think, invasion again ng mga foreigners sa ibang anyo at pinapasok natin sila, yun ang mabigat non, nakapasok na sila at nandito na sila," he said.

Partners 

Tindig Marawi has also partnered with the global property portal Lamudi, whose managing director and chief executive officer, Bhavna Suresh, said they will help in establishing a portal that will serve as a fundraising platform for the rebuilding of shelters in Marawi.

Meanwhile, Lito Villanueva, managing director of the financial technology company FINTQ, is also collaborating with Tindig Marawi through assisting displaced Marawi residents regain their livelihood. He added that they will also facilitate organic farming and micro business training through their program, KasamaKa.

Villanueva said they will also start the Tindig Marawi Livelihood Fund in a hope to raise a minimum of P10 million.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier this week declared the termination of combat operations in Marawi as there were  "no more militants" left in the city after five months of intense military operations against the ISIS-inspired Maute terrorist group.

President Rodrigo Duterte, on October 17, announced the liberation of Marawi City after the deaths of terror leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. —KBK, GMA News