Marawi liberation, rehab on; war on drugs OK but…

PRESIDENT Duterte has declared Marawi City as “liberated “from ISIS-affiliated militants and Maute rebels after a five-month siege and standoff.

“I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from terrorist influence,” The Punisher triumphantly said.

*** “This marks the beginning of rehabilitation of Marawi,” the President declared while visiting the city in southern Philippines,

Good news and a challenge to a nation that has apparently grown tired of the siege and provocation.

*** Gen. Eduardo Ano, chief of staff of the AFP, told reporters that a small number of 20 to 30 militants remain in a small area of the city.

Just a law enforcement matter and mopping-up operations against those militants should continue, he said. *** The declaration of “Marawi liberation” was a “strategic statement,” a military commander said.

“We want to tell the world that the Maute-ISIS problem is over. They cannot be victorious anymore. It’s about to be over,” said Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Joint Task Group Ranao

*** General Ano noted that 150 days since the Philippines army launched an operation to flush them out, more than 800 militants and 162 government security forces had been killed.

The violence forced more than 350,000 residents to flee the city as their homes were reduced to rubble by militant fire and air strike.

*** The World Bank has confirmed its commitment to work with the Philippine government in helping war-torn Marawi City.

Time to rise from devastation!

*** Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said that World Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva has committed to provide technical aid and other forms of assistance to the Philippines to help rebuild Marawi City. Yes to help from our friends.

*** Meanwhile, Filipinos said they are satisfied with Duterte’s war on drugs but dislike unnecessary killings and remain fearful in their communities, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Translation: Sustain war on drugs but check lapses, other woes. ***

SWS said that Duterte’s figures has remained high at 77 percent, , with public satisfaction showing only a 7 percent drop from 84 percent in September 2016.

Pinoys still like DU30 but hate “shabu,” “tulak,” and “adik-adik.”

*** SWS Deputy Director Vladymir Joseph Licudine said that the war on drugs was the primary reason given by respondents why they were satisfied with Mr. Duterte.

“The drug war was their number one reason for their satisfaction with PRRD,” he confirmed.

*** However, Licudine said the drug war was also the No. 1 reason the respondents were “dissatisfied with PRRD because there are so many deaths.”

Compromise solution: Continue checking drug problem but also check unnecessary violence and killings.