Duterte: Gov’t doing its best on Marawi rehabilitation

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the government is doing its best on the rehabilitation of Marawi, slamming critics who claim the city has not been liberated yet.

“Itong mga tao na nagrereklamo, ang sabi there is no liberation of Marawi yet, look, government liberated Marawi, not from the people of Marawi. We do not do that and we never did it. We liberated Marawi against terrorists. ‘Yong Maute pati ‘yong ISIS,” he said in a nationally televised address.

“We never said that it is occupied by anybody except by the government and peace-loving Filipinos. It is not freed by the activities of the terrorists but if you’re talking about liberation, tapos na ‘yan at the expense of blood on both sides,” Duterte added.

The President also called on Marawi residents, “do not worry.”

“The money is there… We will continue to spend until such time that Marawi is rebuilt to its former glory. It might take some time before we can really reach the ideal place that you’d call home,” he said.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte wants to expedite the rehabilitation efforts in war-torn Marawi City.

“Let’s just say that we are satisfied but the President of course would appreciate it if it can be hastened,” Roque told a news conference when asked about the Palace’s assessment of the rehabilitation works.

Roque’s remark came after the nation marked over the weekend the third anniversary of the liberation of Marawi from terrorist influence.

The armed conflict between government troops and ISIS-inspired Maute rebels lasted five months, killing over 1,000 people, mostly terror fighters, displacing thousands of residents.

Task Force Bangon Marawi chief Eduardo del Rosario has repeatedly said the government aims to finish the rehabilitation of the 250-hectare most affected area by December 2021 or six months before the end of Duterte’s term. -- BAP, GMA News