MANILA — While the five-month Marawi siege is a testament to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) dedication to its mandate of protecting the country and its people against all forms of threats, its commemoration highlighted the efforts of the victims to rebuild their lives.
“(The commemoration highlighted the) determination and perseverance of all who have been victims of the Maute-ISIS Group who continue to rebuild their lives through the help of government agencies and other benevolent groups and individuals,” AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said Wednesday.
This year’s activity also showed the care and compassion of nameless and faceless individuals and groups who have unselfishly contributed their material and non-material possessions to help alleviate the suffering of those affected by the attack, combatants and non-combatants alike, he added.
Arevalo further said the commemoration also honored the heroism and sacrifice made by soldiers and police officers during the operation to liberate Marawi City from the hands of terrorists.
About 165 soldiers and policemen, as well as an estimated 908 Maute-ISIS Group terrorists were killed and 852 firearms were seized in the five-month campaign that began May 23, 2017 and ended in October. (Priam Nepomuceno with reports from Ericka Cirera, OJT/PNA)
