Duterte assures transparency in Marawi rehab funds

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed transparency in the use of government funds for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City.

Duterte assured that government resources would go to the intended projects to build back the city that was freed from Islamic State-linked terrorists.

After a video presentation showing completed infrastructures in Marawi City was aired during his talk on Tuesday night, Duterte emphasized the need to report on these accomplishments because Filipinos deserved to know how the government is spending taxpayers’ money.

“Kaya lang nandito kami in this program because sinabi ko sa inyo ipapakita ko kung saan yung pera ninyo napunta (That’s why we’re here in this program because I said I wanted to show you where your money went),” he said.

He said it was also their way of shutting down critics and detractors accusing the national government of corruption.

“Pinakita ko sa inyo kung saan ang pera natin napunta. Importante kasi ‘yan kasi ngayon left and right may makita ang ano corruption, corruption nandito. Magandang issue kasi ‘yan kasi election (I am showing you where our money went. It’s important to do it because left and right people would accuse you of corruption. It’s a good issue to raise now it’s election period),” he added.

Meanwhile, Duterte echoed the statement by Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) chair and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario that the government could not take credit for efforts to rehabilitate Marawi City.

“Let us be clear on this. We in the executive department, cabinet members…Si Secretary (Eduardo) Del Rosrio said we do not claim any credit for this. To rebuild Marawi was a government commitment and trabahante lang kami (we are just workers),” he said.

He also assured that they were not merely showing efforts to bring back Marawi City’s glory because it is election season.

On Oct. 16, Duterte led the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Marawi City from Maute terrorists at the Rizal Park in Marawi, Lanao del Sur.

He promised that his administration will double its efforts to hasten the completion of rehabilitation projects in Marawi City.

“Let me take this opportunity to reassure the people of Marawi that the government is doing its best to expedite the completion of rehabilitation projects at the soonest time possible. We, in government, are strongly committed to bring back the city’s glory,” he said.