MANILA — With the successful conclusion of the Marawi siege, Malacañang on Monday said the government can now shift its full attention to the colossal task of rebuilding the city and bringing the lives of its affected residents back to normalcy.
“The fighting in Marawi has ended. Since the rebellion started 154 days ago, almost a thousand terrorists have been killed, including its leaders Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute, Mahmud Ahmad, among others,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
He said the end of the Marawi siege saw the successful conclusion of what has been, so far, the most serious threat of violent extremism and radicalism in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.
“The defeat of the Daesh-inspired Maute Group likewise underscores our singleness of purpose in the global war against terrorism,” Abella said.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced the termination of all military operations in Marawi City after military troops overran the last pocket of resistance made by pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants who have laid siege to the city since May 23, 2017.
The formal declaration came a week after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the “liberation” of Marawi following the killing of Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf leader and the supposedly appointed “emir” of IS forces in Southeast Asia, and Omar Maute in a nighttime operation.
The two militant extremist leaders were among the 920 terrorists killed by government troops.
With the end of the fighting, Abella said all efforts would now be focused on rebuilding both the war-torn southern city and the lives of its people.
According to estimates, up to 230,000 people have fled the fighting in Marawi.
While most of them have found shelter in the homes of their relatives across Mindanao and even as far as Luzon, around 40,000 have been living in evacuation centers just outside the conflict zone.
“With the liberation of Marawi, our focus now shifts to the enormous and challenging task of rebuilding, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Islamic City. The damage to Marawi’s infrastructure and private properties and the displacement of thousands of residents require the government’s unified and comprehensive effort,” Abella said.
Lastly, the Palace official extolled the bravery and courage of the government troops who have laid their lives to liberate Marawi City from the clutches of the IS militants.
After five months of fierce urban warfare, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said 165 government forces perished while more than 1,400 were wounded in the effort to liberate the city.
“Finally, we commend government troops, including the fallen, for their courage, gallantry, and sacrifice. A snappy salute to all of you,” Abella said. (PNA)
