Bong Go says Duterte will not commemorate anniversary of Marawi siege

 “Why honor” that day Marawi was attacked?, he asks

Smoke rises from houses as battles continued in Marawi on August 28, 2017. / AFP / Ferdinand Cabrera/

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend ceremonies to commemorate the first anniversary of the Marawi siege, his aide said on Wednesday, May 23.

“Why honor (that day)?” Special Assistant to the President Bong Go said.

According to Go, the President would much rather commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of Marawi from terrorists in October.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte might attend the commemoration of the Marawi siege, but that there were “security considerations” that “will prevent us from actually confirming it.”

Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur, was attacked by members of the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf group on May 23 in their alleged bid to establish an Islamic State caliphate.

The incident prompted President Duterte to cut short his trip in Russia to return to the Philippines, and prompted him to declare martial law in Mindanao.

The President visited Marawi while operations were ongoing against the terrorists at least six times.

In October, he declared the city liberated from the clutches of the militants following the deaths of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute leader Otto Maute.