Duterte to mark Marawi liberation in October

Muslim women are seen as they survey the damage during a visit to the main battle area in Marawi City in southern island of Mindanao on May 8, 2018. PHOTO BY JEOFFREY MAITEM

President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Marawi City on the first anniversary of its liberation by government forces from terrorists in October.

“We will go on the liberation of Marawi not [at] the start of the siege [on May 23]. Why honor [the anniversary of the siege]?” Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said in a text message to reporters on Wednesday, answering questions whether Mr. Duterte was traveling to Marawi for the first anniversary of the city’s fall to terrorists a year ago.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines issued a statement on Wednesday, urging Filipinos to look back and celebrate their country’s triumph over violent extremism.

“Marawi has been liberated. If we have to look back to it, let’s do so to learn from it and move on,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, spokesperson for the military, said in a statement.

Arevalo also urged the public to pay tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of 165 soldiers who were killed. —With a report from Jeannette I. Andrade