Samira Gutoc Explained

Samira Gutoc
Office1:Member of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly
1Blankname1:Sector
1Namedata1:Women
Birth Name:Samira Ali Gutoc
Birth Date:19 December 1974[1]
Birth Place:Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Nationality:Filipino
Party:Aksyon Demokratiko (2021–present)
Otherparty:Liberal (2018–2021)[2]
Children:1
Residence:Marawi
Iligan
Alma Mater:University of the Philippines Diliman (AB, MIS)
Arellano University (LL.B)
Appointer1:Benigno Aquino III
Appointer:Rodrigo Duterte
Termstart:February 10, 2017
Termend:May 29, 2017
Termstart1:May 8, 2012
Termend1:June 30, 2013
Office:Member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission
Status1:Officer in Charge

Samira Ali Gutoc[3] (born December 19, 1974) is a Filipina civic leader, journalist,[4] environmentalist, women's rights advocate and politician.[5] She served as a member of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao[6] and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, which was tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law.[7]

She is the founder of Asian Peace Alliance associated with Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association, writes for Asian Muslim Action Network, and established Ranao Rescue Team, a volunteer group that helps civilians displaced by the Battle of Marawi offering relief missions to civilians.[8] [9] [10]

She resides in Marawi, belongs to the Maranao ethnic group, and is a follower of Islam.[11] [12] She unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in 2019, under the Otso Diretso coalition, and in 2022, under Aksyon Demokratiko.

Early life and education

Samira Gutoc's father, Candidato Gutoc, was a diplomatic officer who rose through the ranks.[13] As a result, Samira spent much of her childhood in Saudi Arabia, where her father was posted, before she went on to study at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman) for college.[13]

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in broadcast communication at the UP where she became the president of UP Muslim Students Association and the Metro Manila-wide Muslim Youth and Students Alliance. She then earned a Master's in International Studies from the University of the Philippines Center for International Studies, in UP Diliman, then earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Arellano University School of Law in 2006. She acquired her Fellowship from the Oxford Center in United Kingdom.

Career

Legislation work in Mindanao

7th ARMM Regional Legislative AssemblyGutoc was one of the 27 officer-in-charge (OIC) members of the 7th ARMM Assembly appointed by President Benigno Aquino III on May 8, 2012. The OIC officials served until the 2013 elections.[14]

Bangsamoro Transition CommissionOn February 10, 2017, Gutoc was appointed by the Rodrigo Duterte administration as a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law.[15] However, she resigned on May 29 that year, citing her disapproval of the government's handling of the Marawi siege, the declaration of martial law, and Duterte's joke that he would take the blame for soldiers who commit rape during martial law.[16] [17]

Senate electoral campaign

2019 election

On October 11, 2018, Gutoc-Tomawis announced and filed her candidacy for senator for the May 2019 election.[18] She was a member of the political ensemble Otso Diretso, a Liberal Party-led opposition coalition against the Duterte administration.[19] However, the whole ticket failed to secure a seat in Senate.

She signaled her agenda for peace education, divorce, Muslim rights, women's rights, and children's rights. She is against the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility and has taken the position against the ongoing martial law in Mindanao.[20] [21] [22]

On July 19, 2019, the PNPCriminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed charges against Gutoc and other members of the Otso Diretso electoral for "sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice". The accused including Gutoc, were alleged to be linked to "The Real Narcolist" video series of Bikoy which the PNP-CIDG said contained "false information" meant to rally people against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and ensure Leni Robredo's acension to the vice presidency.[23] [24]

2022 election

Gutoc-Tomawis joined Aksyon Demokratiko on August 9, 2021, and was made part of its national executive board. She was admitted to the party as a representative of Filipino Muslims, the marginalized, and women. According to Gutoc, she joined the party because she is a fan of Aksyon's founder Raul Roco and his Agenda of Hope manifesto.[25] [26] On October 3, she filed her candidacy for the 2022 Senate election.[27] She was also named as a guest candidate of the Labor and Ecology Advocates for Democracy (LEAD) senatorial slate of another presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman.[28] However, she lost once again, ranking 39th.

Marawi siege

Gutoc-Tomawis was a resident of Marawi when the 2017 Marawi siege took place.[11] Towards highlighting the evacuees' situation, their rights and humanitarian situation, she has been a resource person to the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times and has also appeared on Al Jazeera.[29]

Organizations

During the 2017 Marawi siege, Gutoc-Tomawis established Ranao Rescue Team, a volunteer group that helps civilians displaced by the Battle of Marawi offering relief missions to civilians.[8] [30] [31] [11] [32] [9] [10]

In 2020, she co-founded Ako Bakwit, Inc. with Nazh-Far Mariwa Berganio, an organization that aims to promote and protect the rights and welfare of the internally displaced persons in the country.[33]

Other affiliations

Gutoc-Tomawis currently writes the column "A Girl From Marawi" that comes out every Saturday on The Philippine Business and News.[34]

She also anchors The Voice and The Voiceless at the Filipinos World in partnership with The Manila Times and Mafe Management Consultancy.[35]

Awards

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eleksyon 2019 candidate's profile: Samira Gutoc . gmanetwork.com . GMA News . August 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210814013158/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2019/candidate/35/samiragutoc/ . August 14, 2021 . 2019 . live.
  2. News: Lalu . Gabriel Pabico . Gutoc on alliance shift: I waited for LP, but it did no large-scale organizing . September 28, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . September 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928102936/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1493816/gutoc-clarifies-alliance-shift-i-waited-for-lp-but-it-didnt-do-mass-organizing-at-a-large-scale . September 28, 2021.
  3. Web site: Mindanaoan civic leader Samira Gutoc lodged her candidacy... . Facebook . Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism . October 3, 2021 . October 3, 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20211003215632/https://www.facebook.com/pcijdotorg/photos/pb.154464587936032.-2207520000../4555132791202501/?type=3&theater . October 3, 2021.
  4. Web site: Samira Gutoc, Author at the Philippine Business and News . July 11, 2021 .
  5. Web site: Samira Ali Gutoc-Tomawis. Galapon. Aldwin Llacuna. February 2017. Philippine Center on Islam and Democracy. October 12, 2018.
  6. News: Bompat . Lerio . PNoy names 27 ARMM assemblymen . August 14, 2021 . ABS-CBN News Central Mindanao . ABS-CBN News . May 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210626164537/https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/05/09/12/pnoy-names-27-armm-assemblymen . June 26, 2021.
  7. News: Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc-Tomawis running for senator. Ranada. Pia. October 10, 2018. Rappler. October 12, 2018. en.
  8. News: From camps to Congress and to Marawi's streets. MindaNews. October 12, 2018. en-US.
  9. News: Remembering the Marawi crisis. Cabato. Regine. May 28, 2018. cnn. October 12, 2018. en. October 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012094446/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/05/22/remembering-marawi-crisis.html. dead.
  10. News: Peace is Key in Rebuilding Marawi – Bangsamoro Women. Mendoza. Diana G.. September 25, 2017. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. October 12, 2018. en-us.
  11. Web site: Peace is Key in Rebuilding Marawi – Bangsamoro Women. cmfr. CMFR. September 25, 2017. en-US. April 15, 2019.
  12. News: Maranao turns emotional as she cites human rights violations in Marawi. Tan. Lara. July 22, 2017. CNN Philippines. October 12, 2018. en. October 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012134838/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/07/22/Martial-law-Mindanao-Marawi-human-rights-violations.html. dead.
  13. News: Samira Gutoc and her showbiz connection.
  14. News: Canlas . Jomar . High Court accedes to Aquino wish on ARMM appointments . August 14, 2021 . The Manila Times . February 29, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210814051743/https://www.manilatimes.net/2012/02/29/news/national/high-court-accedes-to-aquino-wish-on-armm-appointments/790329 . August 14, 2021.
  15. News: Bangsamoro Transition Commission members named . August 14, 2021 . The Philippine Star . February 10, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201124010358/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/02/10/1670856/bangsamoro-transition-commission-members-named . November 24, 2020.
  16. News: Ranada . Pia . Bangsamoro member resigns over Duterte rape joke, martial law . August 14, 2021 . Rappler . May 31, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112043049if_/http://www.rappler.com/nation/samira-gutoc-tomawis-bangsamoro-resignation . November 12, 2020.
  17. News: Alconaba . Nico . Bangsamoro commission member quits over Duterte rape joke, Marawi assault . August 14, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . May 31, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190227010624/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/901275/bangsamoro-commission-member-quits-over-duterte-rape-joke-marawi-assault . February 27, 2019.
  18. Web site: Marawi civic leader, opposition aspirant Samira Gutoc-Tomawis files Senate candidacy. Manila Bulletin News. en-US. April 15, 2019. April 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415094430/https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/10/11/marawi-civic-leader-opposition-aspirant-samira-gutoc-tomawis-files-senate-candidacy/. dead.
  19. Web site: Opposition completes 8-member senatorial slate for 2019 polls. Ramos. Christia Marie. newsinfo.inquirer.net. October 16, 2018. en. April 15, 2019.
  20. News: Marawi resident makes emotional plea vs martial law abuses. Cepeda. Mara. July 22, 2017. Rappler. October 12, 2018. en.
  21. News: In tearful plea, Maranao civic leader alleges abuses under Mindanao martial law. July 22, 2017. ABS-CBN News. October 12, 2018. en-US.
  22. News: Maranao leader tells Congress of 'abuses' under Mindanao martial law. Alvarez. Kathrina Charmaine. July 22, 2017. GMA News Online. October 12, 2018. en-US.
  23. News: Robredo, ilang taga-oposisyon kinasuhan ng PNP-CIDG ukol sa 'Bikoy' videos . ABS-CBN News . Tagalog.
  24. News: Sedition raps: Solons, bishop hit 'stupid' PNP . July 20, 2019 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  25. News: Domingo . Katrina . Ex-Otso Diretso bet Samira Gutoc joins Aksyon Demokratiko . August 13, 2021 . ABS-CBN News . August 13, 2021 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813061341/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/13/21/ex-otso-diretso-bet-samira-gutoc-joins-aksyon-demokratiko . August 13, 2021.
  26. News: Santos . Eimor . Marawi's Samira Gutoc now with Isko's party, hopes for unity with Robredo . August 14, 2021 . CNN Philippines . August 13, 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813110455/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/8/13/Samira-Gutoc-Aksyon-Demokratiko-Isko-Moreno-Leni-Robredo.html . August 13, 2021.
  27. News: Yumol . David Tristan . Senate hopefuls Estrada, Gutoc highlight lean Day 3 of COC filing for national posts . October 3, 2021 . CNN Philippines . October 3, 2021 . dead . https://archive.today/20211003142226/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/10/3/coc-filing-day3-estrada-gutic.html . October 3, 2021.
  28. Web site: Mendoza . John Eric . Socialist presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman bares senatorial line up . October 16, 2021 . June 1, 2022 . en-US.
  29. News: Neil Jerome Morales, Tom Allard . The Maute brothers: Southeast Asia's Islamist 'time bomb' . June 12, 2017 . June 12, 2017.
  30. Web site: Pagkain, hiling para sa naipit sa bakbakan; 'dignity kit', bigay sa mga 'bakwit'. ABS-CBN News. June 19, 2017. April 15, 2019.
  31. Web site: Civil groups appeal for ceasefire in Mindanao. ucanews.com. en. April 15, 2019.
  32. News: Muslims appeal for end to disinformation in Marawi - ucanews.com. Torres. Joel. February 27, 2018. UCANews. October 12, 2018. Union of Catholic Asian News Ltd.. Sarmiento. bong. Hong Kong.
  33. News: Garcia . Ma. Angelica . Ako Bakwit calls on Senate to prioritize IDP rights bill amid pandemic . September 21, 2020 . GMA News . BM, GMA News.
  34. News: Gutoc . Samira . A Girl from Marawi By Samira Gutoc . August 3, 2019 . August 3, 2019.
  35. News: 'The Filipinos World' launches Season 2.0 on social media . July 14, 2022 . July 14, 2022.
  36. News: Samira Gutoc-Tomawis .
  37. Web site: ARGUILLAS . CAROLYN . 2 Moro women among 12 TOWNS awardees . Mindanews . October 12, 2019 . October 12, 2019.
  38. Web site: Samira Gutoc. April 15, 2019. www.facebook.com. en.
  39. News: Sepe . Fernando Jr. . TOYM awardee Samira Gutoc tells youth: 'Be game-changers' . May 23, 2019 . ABS CBN . May 23, 2019.