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][5]

Samira Gutoc
Gutoc in 2012
Member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission
In office
February 10, 2017 – May 29, 2017
Appointed byRodrigo Duterte
Member of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly
In office
May 8, 2012 – June 30, 2013
Appointed byBenigno Aquino III
SectorWomen
Personal details
Born
Samira Ali Gutoc

(1974-12-19) December 19, 1974 (age 49)[1]
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
NationalityFilipino
Political partyAksyon Demokratiko (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations
Liberal (2018–2021)[2]
Spouse
Abdul Maomit Tomawis[1]
(m. 2004)
Children1
Residence(s)Marawi
Iligan
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman (AB, MIS)
Arellano University (LL.B)
Occupation
  • Activist
  • environmentalist
  • journalist
  • politician
Websitewww.samira-gutoc.com

She is the founder of Asian Peace Alliance associated with Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association, writes for Asian Muslim Action Network,[5] 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

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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.[5] 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.[5]

Career

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Legislation work in Mindanao

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Gutoc taking her oath as OIC assemblymember of the 7th ARMM Assembly

7th ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly Gutoc 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.[6][14]

Bangsamoro Transition Commission On 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

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2019 election

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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

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Gutoc in 2022

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

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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

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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][excessive citations]

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

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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

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  • Cited as one of the World's Most Influential Muslims - The Muslim 500 by The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.[36]
  • 2019 The Outstanding Women in Nation's Service Awardee for Peace Advocacy by TOWNs Foundation.[37]
  • 2018 United Nations Development Programme N-Peace Awardee for Activism.[38]
  • 2001 The Outstanding Youngmen (TOYM) Honoree for Youth Development by JCI Philippines.[39]


See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Eleksyon 2019 candidate's profile: Samira Gutoc". gmanetwork.com. GMA News. 2019. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 27, 2021). "Gutoc on alliance shift: I waited for LP, but it did no large-scale organizing". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "Mindanaoan civic leader Samira Gutoc lodged her candidacy..." Facebook. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. October 3, 2021. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Samira Gutoc, Author at the Philippine Business and News". July 11, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Galapon, Aldwin Llacuna (February 2017). "Samira Ali Gutoc-Tomawis". Philippine Center on Islam and Democracy. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Bompat, Lerio (May 10, 2012). "PNoy names 27 ARMM assemblymen". ABS-CBN News Central Mindanao. ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Ranada, Pia (October 10, 2018). "Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc-Tomawis running for senator". Rappler. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "From camps to Congress and to Marawi's streets". MindaNews. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Cabato, Regine (May 28, 2018). "Remembering the Marawi crisis". cnn. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Mendoza, Diana G. (September 25, 2017). "Peace is Key in Rebuilding Marawi – Bangsamoro Women". Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c cmfr (September 25, 2017). "Peace is Key in Rebuilding Marawi – Bangsamoro Women". CMFR. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  12. ^ Tan, Lara (July 22, 2017). "Maranao turns emotional as she cites human rights violations in Marawi". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Samira Gutoc and her showbiz connection".
  14. ^ Canlas, Jomar (February 29, 2012). "High Court accedes to Aquino wish on ARMM appointments". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Bangsamoro Transition Commission members named". The Philippine Star. February 10, 2017. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  16. ^ Ranada, Pia (May 31, 2017). "Bangsamoro member resigns over Duterte rape joke, martial law". Rappler. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Alconaba, Nico (May 31, 2017). "Bangsamoro commission member quits over Duterte rape joke, Marawi assault". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  18. ^ "Marawi civic leader, opposition aspirant Samira Gutoc-Tomawis files Senate candidacy". Manila Bulletin News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  19. ^ Ramos, Christia Marie (October 16, 2018). "Opposition completes 8-member senatorial slate for 2019 polls". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  20. ^ Cepeda, Mara (July 22, 2017). "Marawi resident makes emotional plea vs martial law abuses". Rappler. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "In tearful plea, Maranao civic leader alleges abuses under Mindanao martial law". ABS-CBN News. July 22, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  22. ^ Alvarez, Kathrina Charmaine (July 22, 2017). "Maranao leader tells Congress of 'abuses' under Mindanao martial law". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  23. ^ "Robredo, ilang taga-oposisyon kinasuhan ng PNP-CIDG ukol sa 'Bikoy' videos". ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog).
  24. ^ "Sedition raps: Solons, bishop hit 'stupid' PNP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  25. ^ Domingo, Katrina (August 13, 2021). "Ex-Otso Diretso bet Samira Gutoc joins Aksyon Demokratiko". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  26. ^ Santos, Eimor (August 13, 2021). "Marawi's Samira Gutoc now with Isko's party, hopes for unity with Robredo". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  27. ^ Yumol, David Tristan (October 3, 2021). "Senate hopefuls Estrada, Gutoc highlight lean Day 3 of COC filing for national posts". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  28. ^ Mendoza, John Eric (October 16, 2021). "Socialist presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman bares senatorial line up". Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  29. ^ Neil Jerome Morales, Tom Allard (June 12, 2017). "The Maute brothers: Southeast Asia's Islamist 'time bomb'". Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  30. ^ "Pagkain, hiling para sa naipit sa bakbakan; 'dignity kit', bigay sa mga 'bakwit'". ABS-CBN News. June 19, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  31. ^ "Civil groups appeal for ceasefire in Mindanao". ucanews.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  32. ^ Torres, Joel; Sarmiento, bong (February 27, 2018). "Muslims appeal for end to disinformation in Marawi - ucanews.com". UCANews. Hong Kong: Union of Catholic Asian News Ltd. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  33. ^ Garcia, Ma. Angelica. "Ako Bakwit calls on Senate to prioritize IDP rights bill amid pandemic". BM, GMA News. GMA News. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  34. ^ Gutoc, Samira (August 3, 2019). "A Girl from Marawi By Samira Gutoc". Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  35. ^ "'The Filipinos World' launches Season 2.0 on social media". July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  36. ^ "Samira Gutoc-Tomawis".
  37. ^ ARGUILLAS, CAROLYN (October 12, 2019). "2 Moro women among 12 TOWNS awardees". Mindanews. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  38. ^ "Samira Gutoc". www.facebook.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  39. ^ Sepe, Fernando Jr. (May 23, 2019). "TOYM awardee Samira Gutoc tells youth: 'Be game-changers'". ABS CBN. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
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