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Friday, March 29, 2024

Marawi to rise again–Palace

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MARAWI CITY”•Malacañang on Wednesday announced the government’s plan for the total rehabilitation of Marawi City’s “Ground Zero” in the aftermath of the clash between government troops and the Maute terror group.

“The goal is to completely rebuild Marawi during the term of President Duterte,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing here.

“To the residents of Marawi, sagot po kayo ni Presidente. Babangon po ang Marawi [The President will take care of you. Marawi will rise again].”

Security forces still stationed in Marawi City have intensified their monitoring to deter potential recruitment by terrorist elements of young adults to join them.

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HONOR FOR MARAWI HEROES. President Rodrigo Duterte examines photos in the exhibit during the tribute program called ‘Ang Huling Tikas Pahinga: Isang Pagpupugay sa mga Bayani ng Marawi’ at the Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City Tuesday. The program honored the heroism of the fallen soldiers and police officers who took part in the liberation of Marawi City. Malacañang Photo

The supposed recruitment of the youth by the terrorists surfaced during a press briefing presided by Roque here.

 The apparent recruitment was taking place in the surrounding areas in Lake Lanao, the take-off point by the terrorists in launching the attack in Marawi City on May 23.

Meanwhile, Australia and Southeast Asia have joined forces to choke financing for militant networks, Australia’s justice minister said Wednesday, amid recent concerns about the Islamic State group gaining a foothold in the region.

Australia’s financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC and the Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council will lead the group. The creation of the alliance”•named the South East Asia Counter Terrorism Financing Working Group”•is the latest effort to enhance regional cooperation against militants.

The new alliance aims to disrupt the funding of militant groups through enhanced financial intelligence sharing, Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, where he is attending a counter-terrorism conference.

“The stability and security of Southeast Asia is of critical importance to Australia,” said Keenan, who also assists Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull on counter-terrorism issues.

Canberra “is committed to defeating the threat posed by terrorist groups, including ISIL, in the region,” he added, referring to IS by another name.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is set to acquire 23 attack helicopters in a bid to quell terrorism in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte said. 

In a speech Tuesday, Duterte reiterated his vow to no longer purchase second-hand equipment as he bid for a stronger military and police at the end of his presidency. 

The Bangon Marawi press briefing was held in the city for the first time as an early commitment made by Roque when he took office as a member of President Duterte’s Cabinet. 

“[I]’s important to set a message, especially to the youth who may be susceptible to being recruited [by terrorists], that Malacañang has moved to Marawi itself. I’m here today as the spokesperson… to emphasize that the President is committed to the rebuilding of Marawi in the soonest time possible,” Roque said.  

He said Task Force Bangon Marawi was now  conducting its Post-Conflict Needs Assessment in the areas affected by the Maute siege. He said it was set to provide an initial estimated cost for rehabilitation early next year.

Roque said the government was planning to flatten the entire area and build new infrastructure, complete with better facilities such as underground electric cables and a promenade that would serve as a prime tourist attraction. 

He also reiterated the TFBM’s commitment to residents that in the rebuilding of their city, the government would consider their religious and cultural convictions. He said places of worship would be rebuilt based on the residents’ preference. 

Roque guaranteed regular consultations among the stakeholders during the rehabilitation phase.

Secretary Del Rosario announced that the task force was set to redeploy its next batch of PCNA teams to the remaining Marawi barangays that were yet to be assessed.

In the meantime, he said all agencies involved in TFBM would continue to focus on the city’s early recovery stage, which included assisting internally displaced persons in returning to their homes. 

In line with this, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said the second leg of “Kambalingan” started this week, with the residents from eight villages under Cluster 2 successfully returning to their homes. To date, residents from 17 villages has already returned to their respective places, he said. 

Earlier this year, Australia sent two Orion aircraft to provide surveillance support to Philippine troops in their bloody five-month battle with militants to liberate Marawi.

IS militants seized the southern Philippine city of Marawi in May, a move Philippine officials and analysts say was part of the group’s plan to establish a base in the region. With AFP

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