Duterte turning over 800 shelters to Marawi evacuees

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

A little more than two months after declaring the liberation of Marawi City from Islamic State (ISIS) inspired terrorists, President Rodrigo Duterte will lead on Wednesday afternoon the turn over of temporary shelters to displaced residents of Marawi City, Malacañang said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government would turn more than 800 units for Marawi residents left homeless after hundreds of ISIS-Maute terrorists laid siege to the Islamic city. Subsequent fighting and military bombardment left the city in ruins.

“We targeted to transfer 500 units but instead of just 500, we are actually transferring 800,” he said in a televised press briefing in Marawi City.

“This afternoon the President will turn over 500 units of housing units in Sagonsongan. And this is only the first of the temporary housing units that we will be transferring to the people of Marawi as promised,” he added.

Roque added that “a further 300 will be transferred to Matungao,” which is in Lanao del Norte.

Sagonsongan is a barangay of Marawi City.

On Oct. 17, Duterte declared the “liberation” of Marawi City from terrorists after the military killed Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, touted as the emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia, and Omar Maute, who headed the local terrorist group.

Four days later, the military declared “total victory” by its forces in the city, which was battered by fighting for five months beginning May 23, 2017.

The President’s spokesperson said the recovery of Marawi City was underway with the turnover of the shelter units.

“Nangako ang Presidente na babangon ang Marawi. Ngayong araw, December 27, 2017, nagsimula nang bumangon ang Marawi dahil ito ang mga kauna-unahang housing shelters na ibibigay sa mga naging nabiktima ng digmaan dito sa Marawi,” Roque said. /cbb