Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday admitted that President Rodrigo Duterte was “exasperated” by the long delay in the rehabilitation of the affected areas in war-torn Marawi City.
“He [Duterte] was exasperated, but then again tapos na ‘yun… maguumpisa na eh [that was done, it will now start],” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Marawi City’s groundbreaking was initially set in June, however, problems in the procurement process forced the government to postpone it several times, Task Force Bangon Marawi Chairperson Eduardo del Rosario said Friday.
The ceremony was set on Tuesday, the first anniversary of Duterte’s declaration of the city’s liberation from terrorist forces.
READ: Marawi ‘ground zero’ rehab to start on Oct. 17
However, the rehabilitation was rescheduled again on Oct. 28 as Duterte was unable to attend the ceremonies.
Panelo clarified that Duterte’s non-attendance in the set date does not mean “he is not interested.”
“It conflicted with certain schedules that occured yesterday or the other day. His non-attendance does not mean he is not interested. In fact, he’s been doing other things for the rehabilitation of that place,” he said.
The Marawi siege, which started in May 2017, took the lives of at least 1,100 civilians, soldiers and terrorists. The Islamic State-inspired terrorists were aiming to establish a stronghold in Mindanao, which will serve as the center of an ISIS caliphate. /jpv