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MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has questioned why government critics continue to insist on the liberation of Marawi City, as was done three years ago.
According to Duterte, the rebuilding of Marawi, a city torn apart by fighting between the Maute group and government forces, would take some time, but is already under government control.
“Meanwhile, itong mga tao na nagre-reklamo, sabi, there is still no liberation from Marawi. Look, the government freed Marawi, not the people of Marawi. We don’t do that and we never did, ”Duterte said in his prerecorded speech Monday night.
(Meanwhile, some people complain, saying that there is still no liberation of Marawi. Look, the government liberated Marawi, not the people of Marawi. We don’t do that, and we never did).
“We liberated Marawi against the terrorists, Maute pati ‘yong Isis. ‘Yon ang nangyari d’yan. There is no such thing, you are using the word ‘liberation’, we never said that anyone occupies it except for the government and peace-loving Filipinos, “he added.
(We liberated Marawi against the terrorists, Maute including even Isis. That’s what happened there. There is no such thing, you are using the word “liberation”, we never said that no one occupies it except the government and peace lovers. Filipinos.)
It is not clear who the “whistleblower” Duterte referred to was as he did not explicitly mention it, but Vice President Leni Robredo issued a statement last Sunday, on the third anniversary of the city’s liberation.
Marawi was besieged after the Maute group, sympathizers of the Islamic State, occupied the city in May 2017. After five months of massive fighting, which resulted in the death of civilians, the terrorist side and the Philippine army, the government. declared Marawi “released”.
But on Sunday, Robredo, seen as the figurehead of the opposition, commented that truly liberating the war-torn city goes beyond stopping the shootings.
“Liberation involves much more than silencing the shots. Today we remember the Marawi we lost, even as we renew the call for a more urgent approach to the rehabilitation process and recommit ourselves to rebuilding a more peaceful and prosperous city. Insha Allah, makakabangon tayong muli, ”said Robredo.
Duterte admitted that Marawi continues to be harassed by terrorist activities around him, but clarified that the Islamic City, the provincial capital of Lanao del Sur, has long been liberated, albeit at the cost of many lives.
“Of course it is not liberated with the activities of the terrorists, but if one talks about liberation, tapos na ‘yan, at the cost of the blood of both sides,” explained Duterte.
(Of course, it is not liberated with the activities of the terrorists, but if one speaks of liberation, that is already done, at the expense of the blood of both sides.)
“But sa akin, more masakit kasi I am the commander in chief, marami akong sundalong namatay. We are doing our best. We did not ask for this fight, we had to destroy because it was the only way to crush the enemy, “he added.
(But it hurts me more because I am the commander in chief, many of my soldiers died. We are doing our best. We did not ask for this fight. We had to destroy because it was the only way to take down the enemy.)
The rehabilitation of Marawi has been a controversial issue as many people are still displaced due to the five-month struggle between state forces and terrorists. But despite the COVID-19 pandemic getting the government’s attention, Malacañang has repeatedly assured the public that rehabilitation is in progress. [ac]
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