Senators on Wednesday lauded the combined efforts of the military and police in Marawi City, as the end of the months-long siege draws closer with the death of terrorists Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.
But after the neutralization of the top terror leaders, the senators highlighted the need for the government to speed up the rehabilitation of the war-torn city in Lanao del Sur.
Former soldiers Senator Gringo Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV were among the senators who first commended the government troops for the death of the siege leaders.
“I commend the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) for neutralizing the Maute leaders, Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. Hopefully, this also signifies the end of the major hostilities of the siege. This decisive victory is a fitting honor to our soldiers, both fallen and living, who bravely fought in this campaign,” Trillanes said.
Honasan said the government should now focus on the “more difficult part,” which was rebuilding the city.
But he also offered a long-term solution to fight terrorism, insurgency, secession, injustice and oppression and deeper forms of violence. “We need good government, delivery of basic services, food, clothing, shelter, education, health to begin with,” he said.
Senate Majority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III also said, “Let’s start reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi ASAP.”
Senator Migz Zubiri, meanwhile, lauded everyone involved in military-police operations in Marawi, including the civilian intelligence assets.
“What took the combined Allied and Russian forces three years to take over Mosul in Iraq, it only took our brave and gallant soldiers five months to retake Marawi City from the extremist terrorists,” Zubiri said.
“Along with all our countrymen, we will support projects for the reign of peace, stability and development in the areas impacted by the Marawi conflict,” he said.
“I applaud our brave men and women in uniform for eliminating the terrorist masterminds primarily responsible for the carnage and devastation in Marawi over the past few months. I hope that this assault will be the finishing blow that brings the war in Marawi to a definitive end. My prayers go out to our courageous soldiers still on the ground in the city. I hope they will all be able to get home safe,” Senator Win Gatchalian said.
Once peace and order is restored in the city, Gatchalian said the government can “finally begin in earnest the next battle: the fight to build Marawi back better than it ever was before.”
Senator Sonny Angara noted that troops’ accomplishment came with a heavy price, with than a hundred soldiers who died and scores of civilians killed, wounded and displaced, their homes and livelihood destroyed as a result of the clashes.