(Eagle News) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines called on the public to “help and support the bigger task of rebuilding” Marawi, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte made the declaration the city had been liberated.
AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said in a statement that the declaration, which comes almost five months after the terrorists overran the city, was made by the President “to pave the way for the start of a full blown recovery, rehabilitation and rebuilding effort.”
“(It) was made by the President knowing the remaining enemy force is no longer a force to reckon with,” he added.
He said clearing operations were “already underway to finish off (the terrorists) should they decide to continue the fight.”
Earlier, AFP Chief General Eduardo Año said around 30 terrorists—including eight foreign terrorists such as prominent terrorist Dr. Mahmud Ahmad—remained holed up in the city, but Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao, said they would be captured “very soon.”
Padilla noted Ahmad was “an academician,” and was not like Maute and Hapilon, whom Brawner described as the terrorist group’s “centers of gravity.”
“The President thank(s) all our troops for their sacrifice, dedication and gallantry. He also committed government’s assistance to all evacuees and families affected by the conflict,” Padilla said.