(FILE) An Army soldier stands guard while workers renovate the Grand Mosque at the city center of Marawi. The most intense fighting between government troops and Islamic- State-linked militants who laid siege to the city in 2017 happened in this area. —RICHEL V. UMEL
VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — President Rodrigo Duterte is already completing the rehabilitation of Marawi City, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Thursday even as authorities have admitted that the rehabilitation project cannot be completed by the end of the Chief Executive’s term.
Marcos Jr. visited Marawi City in Lanao del Sur before heading to Valencia City in Bukidnon for his presidential campaign. In both provinces, he lost to Leni Robredo in the 2016 vice-presidential elections.
“Ginagawa na ‘yun… Tinatapos na ni Pangulong Duterte (It’s already being done… President Duterte is already finishing it),” Marcos Jr. said in an ambush interview at the inauguration of the UniTeam headquarters in Valencia City.
Marcos Jr. visited Marawi City earlier today. We ask him: Will you prioritize Marawi rehab if elected?
He says: “Ginagawa na yun… Tinatapos na ni Pangulo Duterte.”
The Task Force Bangon Marawi has said that the rehab program will only be “90-95 percent” done by June 30. pic.twitter.com/SgBwAX3OJe
— Neil Arwin Mercado (@NAMercadoINQ) March 31, 2022
However, in February, Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who also chairs Task Force Bangon Marawi, said the rehabilitation program will only be “90-95 percent” done by June 30, the end of President Duterte’s term.
Nonetheless, Del Rosario said: “Everything will be completed” by the end of the year.
Del Rosario said the progress rate of the Marawi rehabilitation program is at 85 percent, as of February.
Fighting between government troops and the Islamic State-linked Maute group in 2017 ended with the displacement of around 350,000 Marawi City residents.