Lacson seeks quick resolution of Marawi, RWM incidents

A quick resolution of the crisis in Marawi City as well as the incident at Resorts World Manila casino would help bring back confidence in the government by the public and also foreign tourists and investors, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

The conflict in Marawi City that started on May 23 and the subsequent declaration of martial law by President Duterte in the whole of Mindanao shook the entire nation and caused jitters among the country’s foreign visitors and expatriates alike.

Then came the attack by a lone gunman on the Resorts World Manila (RWM) complex in Pasay City last Friday, which resulted in the deaths of 38 individuals.

It did not help that United States President Donald Trump referred to the RWM incident as an act of terrorism, something that local authorities have ruled out.

Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said that the fast action by the government in ending the crisis in Marawi and solving the RWM incident “would be reassuring to both Filipinos and foreign tourists and investors as well.”

“Given the fact that a determined terror attack is almost impossible to prevent, recent events in Europe, particularly France and England, will tell us that the confidence level goes back to normal very quickly if government shows determination and efficiency in resolving the crisis,” Lacson said.

Lacson, who gave his support to the declaration of martial law by the President, said that it is imperative that the conflict in Marawi is resolved quickly so that there would no longer be any reason to prolong martial law in Mindanao.

He said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP should utilize all of its resources, “both in terms of equipage and the competence of their personnel, to restore normalcy in Marawi.”

“While martial law in Mindanao is a boost to the AFP’s efforts, (President Duterte) should seriously consider lifting the same at the first sign that it has outlived its necessity,” Lacson said.