THE country marked Wednesday, October 17, the first anniversary of the liberation of Marawi City from local terrorists.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo assured Filipinos that the Duterte administration, especially the Philippine troops, are on guard against future acts of terrorism.
"Today, we commemorate the liberation of Marawi from the malevolent hands of terrorists," Panelo said in a statement.
"Despite this feat, the government, with the help of its armed forces, will remain vigilant in the midst of quiet for possible terrorist threats that may again strike our nation," he added.
Marawi, home to around 200,000 people, was devastated after the bloody, five-month battle between the government forces and members of the Maute terror group who laid siege to the Islamic city.
The Marawi siege claimed the lives of more than 1,000 individuals, including the troops who were sent to the battle area to flush out the Islamist terrorists.
On October 17, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City "liberated" after terror leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed by the government forces.
Panelo said the deaths of Hapilon and Maute "have thwarted the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the [Marawi] area and curbed the possibility of the rebellion from spreading to other parts of the country."
"As we celebrate the triumphs of our government troops against the Daesh-inspired Maute rebels, we pay tribute to those who have fallen in the fierce battles during the siege of Marawi and gave the ultimate sacrifice to make our nation safer and more secure," he said.
"The liberation of Marawi conveyed one strong message: Our people stand – and will unceasingly stand – united against the evils of terrorism," the Palace official added.
Marawi is now under rehabilitation.
Panelo asked for patience, as the administration continues its "arduous tasks" of recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the city.
He noted that several government agencies have converged to ease the sufferings of displaced residents of Marawi and help them begin rebuilding their lives, homes, and communities.
He assured that the government's efforts would transform Marawi into a "peaceful and progressive" city.
"The end of the intense firefighting in Marawi a year ago likewise marked the beginning of the healing and rebuilding of the Islamic city and its residents," Panelo said.
"Efforts to build a vibrant and prosperous Marawi from the rubbles of war and conflict will soon come into fruition as we expect the groundbreaking of reconstruction activities, designed with due recognition of the cultural sensitivities of its residents, by the end of the month. We therefore ask everyone to remain fully supportive of the government’s initiatives in this regard," he added. (SunStar Philippines)