VZCZCXRO3616
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHML #0651/01 0730916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130916Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0125
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000651 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPAO RP EAID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR FORGES KEY RELATIONSHIPS IN ISLAMIC CITY OF 
MARAWI, PROMOTING PEACE AND PROSPERITY 
 
REF: A) 06 MANILA 4553 
 B) 07 MANILA 3909 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY.  On March 1, the Ambassador returned to Marawi 
City, the heart of Muslim Mindanao, accompanied by EAP DAS Scot 
Marciel. The strategic timing of the visit, near the end of the 
annual joint military Balikatan exercises, was intended to promote 
goodwill with the city's somewhat skeptical populace. The 
Ambassador's trip renewed two themes from her previous visit (ref A) 
and visits by country team members: promoting peace and prosperity, 
and protecting the environment. The day included a civil-military 
medical mission and building project, two USAID environmental 
programs, and a model police station training class. The visit made 
inroads with the people of Marawi and key individuals, although 
sustaining a positive relationship with the city will require 
ongoing attention.  END SUMMARY. 
 
MARAWI: THE ISLAMIC CITY BY THE LAKE 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (U) The Islamic City of Marawi is the capital of Lanao del Sur 
and has a population of 130,000 that is more than 90 percent Muslim. 
Marawi is also the region's cultural and educational center, home to 
Mindanao State University (MSU). It is situated on Lake Lanao, one 
of the 15 ancient lakes of the world, which serves as a major source 
of livelihood for the city's residents and provides 70 percent of 
the city's power. The population of Marawi remains among the poorest 
in the Philippines, however, and relatively isolated, as logistics 
make travel to and from the city difficult. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Although still generally pro-America, there are factions 
of Muslim Mindanao, and Marawi in particular, that are suspicious of 
U.S military activities. The Ambassador leveraged the visibility 
enjoyed by U.S. envoys in the Philippines to draw attention to the 
military's humanitarian efforts. She was met by roughly 20 
protestors on the MSU campus and a well-coordinated anti-U.S. 
military sign campaign across the city. However, as evidence that 
this is not the sentiment of the majority, the Ambassador was also 
greeted by large, enthusiastic crowds throughout the day. 
 
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  The day began with a visit to a medical civil action program 
(MEDCAP), coordinated as part of Balikatan --  an annual joint 
"shoulder-to-shoulder" military exercise and humanitarian project. 
The U.S. military and Armed Forces of the Philippines provided 
medical and dental services to nearly 350 Marawi residents. The 
Ambassador also cut the ribbon on two elementary school classrooms 
built jointly by 120 U.S. and Philippine troops and furnished by a 
private non-profit foundation. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, 
the City Administrator remarked that Marawi is a peaceful city, 
despite its opposition to Balikatan. He welcomed, on behalf of the 
city, the medical missions and building projects. The Ambassador 
responded that improved health and education are the greatest gifts 
we can give to the people of Marawi. 
 
PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) The Ambassador reconnected with members of the Philippine 
Muslim Women's Council (PMWC), with whom she had met during her 
previous visit to Marawi.  At that time, the PMWC received a USAID 
grant to develop an action plan for the conservation of Lake Lanao. 
Lake Lanao has become increasingly polluted from sewage and 
agricultural waste, indiscriminate logging, and excessive land use. 
With the grant, the PMWC convened focus groups, developed a plan for 
improving lake management, and embarked on a publicity campaign. 
The Ambassador commended the women for their leadership, and 
complimented them for their work at the local level, for taking 
environmental responsibility seriously, and for creating inclusive 
partnerships. She commended them for passing the lake's treasure to 
the next generation, as reflected by their motto, "Our Lake, Let Us 
Save It." 
 
¶6.  (U) Later, the Ambassador was greeted by a large crowd at a 
local mosque, where she witnessed the signing of an MSU-EcoGov grant 
agreement. Through USAID's EcoGov program, the mosque was given 
funding to improve its ablution facilities. The Ambassador also 
presented local religious leaders with "Al Khalifa," a resource book 
for Muslim communities on environmental management practices. Her 
message was one of environmental responsibility for the future of 
the city's children. The newly selected President of Mindanao State 
University praised the United States for its generosity, thanked the 
Ambassador for her assistance, and noted the long history of 
American support.  (MSU was built by Americans, its first teachers 
Peace Corps Volunteers.)  The Ambassador had the opportunity earlier 
in the day to discuss with the MSU President the importance of 
education and to renew the U.S. commitment to facilitating 
 
MANILA 00000651  002 OF 002 
 
 
educational exchanges. 
 
MODEL POLICING: KEEPING THE CITY SAFE 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (U) The Ambassador also had the opportunity to stress the 
importance of community safety to promoting peace. The city of 
Marawi was selected as one of ten Model Police Stations in the 
Philippines to receive assistance through the International Criminal 
Investigative Training and Assistance Program (ICITAP). More than 
100 Marawi police officers have received training on subjects such 
as crime scene investigation, community policing, and human rights. 
The Ambassador met with 15 police officers and cadets who had 
benefited from the program. They briefed her on their progress and 
shared with pride how they are learning from each other. Among the 
group were several female cadets, a rare but important asset in 
Muslim Mindanao. The Ambassador congratulated the group and 
commented on the importance of their work. DAS Marciel also 
addressed the group, noting that it was beneficial for him to see 
first-hand the success of the programs that Washington funds. 
 
A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND PARTNERSHIP 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) The Ambassador's visit to Marawi was an important step in 
cementing the friendship between the U.S. and the local -- sometimes 
skeptical-- population. Based on the positive media coverage, the 
efforts seem to be working. During an interview at a local radio 
station, the Ambassador noted the importance of the 
Philippine-American partnership. The interviewer, proud of his 
recent selection as an International Visitor program participant, 
thanked the Ambassador for the USG's continued assistance. The 
Ambassador praised him for communicating a message of peace. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) COMMENT. The Ambassador's trip to Marawi was marked with 
interesting contrasts and contradictions. At the mosque ceremony a 
local Imam prayed for an end to the U.S. military presence, but 
thanked the United States for its humanitarian efforts. Signs in the 
center of town counted down the days until the end of Balikatan, but 
families lined up by the hundreds to receive military medical 
assistance.  These contradictions reflect the delicate balance of 
public opinion, easily swayed by negative external influence. Also 
of note, key local officials, including the governor and mayor, were 
absent from the day's events, perhaps signaling their hesitation to 
publicly support U.S. activities.  Nonetheless, the Ambassador's 
trip was timely and garnered much-needed support in an area of the 
Philippines particularly sensitive to U.S. presence.  END COMMENT.