Navy engineering brigade starts Marawi rehab

THE Philippine Navy con on Sunday that the Naval Combat Construction Brigade or Seabees are assisting in the rehabilitation phase in wartorn of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, which the Islamic State- linked Maute terrorists held under siege

Captain Lued Lincuna, Philippine Navy spokesman, said around 50 heavy equipment operators were deployed to Marawi last September 9, when the battle for Marawi City was still ongoing.

“They were equipped with seven assorted heavy equipment to participate in the rehabilitation of Marawi and they are now conducting clearing operations and repair of essential infrastructures,” Lincuna told reporters in a text message.

The Seabees is an engineering unit of the Navy, which is tasked with handling combat engineering and amphibious construction in support of Fleet- Marine operations.

Armed Forces Chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero said that since last month, military engineering units from the Navy, Army and Air Force have been deployed to handle debris and clear the most affected areas of Marawi City.

The military had said that rehabilitation of Marawi City would require martial law to prevent any future attacks from remnants or supporters of the Maute group.

On May 23, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after military operations to serve the warrant against former Southeast Asian IS “emir” Isnilon Hapilon.

Because of the foiled operations, the Maute group alongside Hapilon attacked the city and laid siege to the whole city with the end in view of establishing an IS province in Marawi.

In October, security officials declared the liberation of Marawi City, weeks after Hapilon and Maute leader Omarkhayam Maute ground forces. The two terror leaders were among the 920 extremists killed while the siege went on for