By GENALYN KABILING
But battle vs remnants of terrorists continues.
After the military killed top two notorious terror suspects, President Duterte yesterday declared the liberation of Marawi City from the clutches of terrorists during his return visit to the war-torn area.
The President flew to Marawi City to laud the brave government troops and announce the start of the rehabilitation efforts after nearly five months of fighting Islamic State-linked militants in the city.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence that marks the beginning of rehabilitation,” the President said in his remarks.
Military chief Gen. Eduardo Año told The Associated Press that Duterte’s statement means the threat from the militants, who’ve occupied parts of the lake-side city for five months, is substantially over.
“They’re leaderless and they have no more organization,’’ he said. “There are still skirmishes.’’
According to military spokesman Restituto Padilla, there are 20-30 militants left in Marawi, including six to eight foreign fighters. They have about 20 hostages, including women and children, he said.
The President offered his apology to the Maranao people for the conflict that left the city in ruins, and vowed to prevent a repeat of a terror siege in the city.
“I apologize to the Maranao people…Hindi namin ito ginusto Duterte said, blaming the Maute group, aided by the Islamic State, for the deadly assault in Marawi.
“Ang pangako ko kay Allah, hindi na mauulit. I will never, never, never again papayag ako na mag-ipon ng armas,” he said.
Duterte said he would set up a government camp in Marawi City to keep the people safe and thwart the entry of terrorists.
“Government must have access to all. Maglagay ako ng kampo. Either we live together in peace, makasama kayo sa Pilipino o giyera tayo. Walang problema, marami kaming sundalo, marami kaming bala,” he said.
It was the seventh visit of the President to Marawi since the local terror group, aided by foreign fighters, attacked parts of Marawi last May 23.
Government troops killed Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and another top terror suspect Omar Maute during an assault on a rebel lair last Monday, dealing a huge blow to the militant group lined to the Islamic State.
In his remarks, the President said he realized the conflict in Marawi was serious when the battle has dragged on more than four months.
Apart from the huge weapon supply of the rebels, he claimed that no local government official even informed him about presence of an old tunnel network that was reportedly used by the militants as supply and escape routes.
“Ang tanong ko bakit hindi ito dumating sa iyo pati sa akin. Saan nagkulang ang gobyerno? Intelligence?,” he said.
“Ginusto ito ng mga Maranao, mga Maute at sinakyan ng ISIS. Hindi amin to. Hindi ito sa gob-yerno. Tandaan ninyo,” he said.
Duterte also promised to prioritize the poor families in the government’s rebuilding efforts in Marawi.
He warned the local officials and other people who became rich from illegal drug operations to better leave the city.