PRRD to lead Palace Eid’l Fitr celebration tonight

President Duterte is expected to lead the celebration of Eid’l Fitr or the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Malacañang tonight.

Representatives from the Muslim community and religious leaders have reportedly been invited to attend the Palace affair.

Duterte who claims to have Maranao blood is also scheduled to deliver a speech

during the celebration.

This will be the President’s latest public engagement after disappearing for almost a week. He was last seen in public when he tried to comfort families displaced by the Marawi conflict in Iligan City last June 20. After visiting Marawi evacuees, the commander-inchief also sought to lift the spirits of wounded troops in Cagayan de Oro on the same day.

“In times when all odds seem stacked against us, it is our willpower and faith that will always see us through,” the President said in his Eid’l Fitr message.

“Let us channel our energies to fostering national unity – because dedicating our lives to the betterment of humanity is the best way to demonstrate our devotion to God,” he added.

The President urged the nation to work towards building a society “grounded on love, mutual respect and understanding.”

Don’t join extremists The Marawi violence that entered its 35th day today has displaced some 246,000 people, and killed more than 350, most of them rebels, and about 69 members of the security forces. Twenty-six civilians have been killed but officials believe many more could be dead.

“This is supposed to a day of happiness,” said Imam Aleem Ansari Abdul Malik, who led the prayers.

“Families should be together but they were torn apart.”

He reminded Muslims to shun the advances of radical groups.

“This is just a small fire, do not allow the flames to go bigger by joining extremists,” he said.

Conditions for those trapped in Marawi have been dire, with witnesses reporting bodies on streets, limited food and water and a constant threat of being killed by either the militants, or air strikes.

The threat of Islamic State gaining a foothold in the Philippines has been raised by their losses in Syria and Iraq, and intelligence reports that the militants are seeking new bases from which to project their agenda.

Though the military is confident it can retake Marawi soon, the level of the militants’ preparations, combat capability and resilience has created some trepidation about whether their assault could be the beginning of a wider campaign.(With a report from Reuters)