Marawi liberated – Duterte
Troops on alert for retaliatory attacks by militants
President Duterte declared on Tuesday the liberation of Marawi City from the clutches of terrorists after the military killed the top two notorious terror suspects last Monday.
The President flew to Marawi City Tuesday to laud the brave government troops and announce the start of the rehabilitation efforts after nearly five months of fighting Islamic State-linked militants in the city.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence. That marks the beginning of rehabilitation of the city,” the President said in his remarks.
With the death of the two terrorist Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, the Islamic States’ anointed “emir” in Southeast Asia, and another top terror suspect Omar Maute, security operations were intensified in the country’s territorial waters while troops were on alert in anticipation of retaliatory attacks, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) said.
Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, commander of EastMinCom, said the intensification of the operations is to prevent sympathizers of the terror group to provide reinforcements and wreak havoc in other areas of the country.
The order comes a month after the EastMinCom signed with other agencies a memorandum of understanding creating an Inter-Agency Border Security Coordinating Council the Region.
No one will be left behind Meanwhile, President Duterte, grateful for the sacrifices of the troops, promised to take care of the soldiers wounded during the fierce fighting with the militants.
“Mga mahal kong sundalo ang problema ko ang nasugatan ngayon, marami ‘yan. Yung iba baldado, [My dear soldiers, my problem now is the many wounded, others are disabled],” said Duterte.
“I can guarantee you, sinasabi ko sa inyo ngayon walang iwanan. Ipe-pwesto ko silang lahat [I promise that you will not be left behind. I will give you all positions],” he added.
It was the seventh visit of the President to Marawi since the local terror group, aided by foreign fighters, laid siege on Marawi City last May 23.
The death of Hapilon and Maute has dealt a huge blow to the militant group linked to the Islamic State.
Security forces, however, are still pursuing 20 to 30 militants left in Marawi, including six to eight foreign fighters, according to Armed Forces spokesman Major Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr.
Among the foreign terror suspects is Dr. Mahmud Ahmad, the suspected financier of the Marawi siege, Padilla said.
“As we speak, our troops have remained in the battle area continuing to pursue the armed elements and seeking to rescue the remaining hostages,” Padilla said during a Palace news conference.
He added troops were fighting in a zone comprising about 60 to 80 buildings in the ruined city.
“We are focused on a ground offensive because the fighting is too close."
Terrorism expert Ahmad Kumar Ramakrishna from Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said if Mahmud Ahmad survived he would likely take over the leadership of IS-linked fighters in the southern Philippines.
The militant is also reported to be a university lecturer in his home country who was in charge of raising finances from abroad for the jihadists and recruitment.
Malacañang appealed to the remaining militants in Marawi to surrender to authorities, hoping for the return of peace in the area.
“With terrorist leaders gone, we call on all fighters to cease further resistance and violence and return to the road of peace,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in the same Palace press briefing.
“This is also the call of our Muslim leaders, our imams, ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) chiefs, and the leaders of Muslim nations and this is the plea of your families, friends, and communities. Let us restore peace and rebuild our land,” he added.
With the death of Hapilon and Maute, the government is stepping up the massive rebuilding efforts in Marawi with the deployment of damage assessment teams to some cleared parts of the city.
At least 15 billion has so far been allotted for the Marawi rehabilitation this year and another 110 billion in the next’s budget, according to Kristoffer Purisima, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense. (With a report from AFP)