Military camp eyed near Marawi City

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday revealed his plan to set up a new military camp near the war-torn Marawi City, which was occupied by Islamic Statelinked extremists for nearly five months.

He also revealed his plan to deploy more troops in the southern city.

"Just about in front of Marawi, I will create a new camp [that will be used by] maybe one regiment or one division there within the vicinity of greater Marawi area," the President said in arrival interview in Davao City on Tuesday night after his Japan trip.

Islamic State-linked fighters attacked Marawi City on May 23 in an attempt to establish caliphate for Southeast Asia fighters. The war has reduced the entire city to rubble and displaced thousands of families.

The terrorists' plan was, however, squashed following the deaths of their leaders, Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.

A day after the government announced Hapilon

and Maute's deaths, Duterte declared that Marawi was liberated from the hands of terrorists.

The government is currently exhausting efforts to bring normalcy back to Marawi City.

The construction of around 1,100 transitional shelters, which will serve as temporary homes of displaced Marawi residents, is expected to be completed by year- end. SunStar Philippines