Senators welcome liberation of Marawi City

FILE: A senator has welcomed the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday that Marawi City is now liberated from terrorist influence. (RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — A senator has welcomed the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday that Marawi City is now liberated from terrorist influence.

“This marks the end of a dark period in Philippine history when terrorists sowed fear, violence and devastation in the City of Marawi,” Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said in a press statement.

Aquino again praised the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their victory as well as members of local government units, government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector who took in evacuees and provided support to families who lost their homes and livelihood.

He said that the next challenge is to illuminate the hopeful Filipino spirit by working together to “heal, rebuild and create prosperity in Marawi City.”

The senator also expressed hope that the firefighting will soon end so the government can immediately lift Martial Law and finally focus on rebuilding and developing Marawi City.

Aquino, a member of the Liberal Party, said the party will support the government’s moves to bring Marawi City back on its feet.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, for his part, urged the administration to focus on rehabilitation instead of floating the possibility of declaring a revolutionary government.

“The government should make rehabilitation of Marawi City a top priority when the fighting stops instead of dwelling on baseless destabilization reports,” Pangilinan said in a separate statement.

Pangilinan, LP president, said that it would be better if time is spent on something that would help the country, not cause more disruption.

Pangilinan said that the siege could be over anytime after the AFP and the Department of National Defense (DND) announced the death of top terrorist leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon.