Admin bet JV warns slow Marawi rehab might shift anger to gov’t

TANGUB, Misamis Occidental —Senator JV Ejercito on Wednesday warned that the anger of Marawi residents might shift to the government from the terrorists that attacked the city two years ago if rehabilitation efforts would continue to be delayed.

Ejericto, who's running under the administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago,  made the remark after opposition candidates Erin Tañada and Maranao Samira Gutoc said the city remained a ghost town even after its liberation from ISIS-inspired bandits in 2017.

“I’m worried with the Marawi rehabilitation. Kasi ‘yung galit ng mga residentse, andun pa sa mga terorista eh. Pag tumagal nang tumagal, baka mashift na sa gobyerno,” Ejercito said after a campaign stop here.

“That’s why we have to fast track the rehabilitation and repair of Marawi,” he added.

Ejercito suggested that the government should just focus on rebuilding public services such as roads and government facilities and just give the residents the financial assistance they need so they can build their homes.

“Kung gobyerno ang gagawa ng pabahay, matagal talaga. Kaya ang suggestion ko, ‘yung gobyerno, dun na lang sa roads, drainage, [public] utilities (water and power supply), government facilities," Ejercito said.

"Sa pabahay, hayaan na ang mga residente na gumawa, mag-extend na lang ng assistance o loan [sa mga residente],” he added.

“Kasi pag residente ang gumawa, matatapos ‘yan agad. Saka based on experience natin sa Yolanda, hindi naman nila tinitirhan [yung pabahay ng gobyerno]," Ejercito said.

"Hayaan na lang natin sila ang gumawa sang ayon na rin sa customs and tradition ng ating mga kapatid na Muslim. Titirhan nila ‘yan ‘pag sila ang gumawa,” he added.

Ejercito’s fellow administration candidate Jiggy Manicad said Hugpong ng Pagbabago could still count on Mindanao voters even with the delays in the rehabilitation efforts.

“’Yung issue ng Marawi, andun ‘yung goal to rehabilitate. Ang problema, ‘yung mismong proseso, ‘yung red tape sa iba’t ibang ahensiya. Pero naiintindigan ng mga taga Lanao del Sur na ang goal pa rin ay i-rebuild ang Marawi City. Sino bang pamahalaan ang gustong sumira ng community?” Manicad told reporters after HNP’s campaign stop here.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao in May 2017 Maute group bandits held out in the key installations in Marawi.

The bandits laid siege in Marawi, taking hostages, destroying communities, killing non-Muslims and battling government troops with relentless sniper fire for five months.

“Very challenging talaga ang situation that time because the Maute group occupied mosques, houses, and [even went] underground…walang ibang paraan para mapalabas sila kundi military operation, kaya naiintindihan nila iyon,” Manicad said.

“Hindi sila pinapabayaan. May proseso lamang pero ang primary concern pa rin ay rehabilitation ng Marawi City. Wala namang duda sa direksiyon na ‘yun,” Manicad added.

The Marawi siege killed over a hundred people and caused P53 billion worth of damages.

Martial law in Mindanao has been extended by Congress three times and will expire by the end of this year. —Llanesca T. Panti/NB, GMA News