Honor Marawi heroes by preventing repeat of conflict: OPAPRU

IN MEMORIAM. Philippine Army officers pay tribute to the heroes of Marawi during the wreath-laying ceremony for the fifth anniversary of the city’s liberation at the Marawi Pylon, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio on Monday (Oct. 17, 2022). Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the best way to honor the soldiers who died to liberate the city from the hands of terrorists is to ensure that the event will never happen again. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

MANILA – Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the best way to honor the soldiers who died to liberate Marawi City from the hands of terrorists is to ensure that the event will never happen again.

He added that this is the task peace stakeholders are now focusing on by addressing “drivers of armed conflict.”

“As we lay these wreaths on the tombs of our fallen soldiers, let us honor them for their courage, selflessness and heroism. They gave up their lives…so that others may live,” Galvez said in his speech during the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the liberation of Marawi City at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Monday.

Galvez, who served as Western Mindanao Command chief during the five-month campaign to retake Marawi City from terrorists, said memories of the campaign remain fresh to this day.

He also recalled visiting the wake of the fallen soldiers at night and having to console their widows and other family members.

Galvez, who later became Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff, said these were among the most difficult moments in his military career.

“Slowly but surely, we are seeing Marawi rise from the ashes. The pace of rehabilitation efforts continues to gain momentum with the construction of new roads, bridges, schools and other vital infrastructure,” he added.

Beyond the physical reconstruction of the city, Galvez said he was pleased to see that the torn social fabric caused by the siege is now being repaired, as the process of healing for the victims of the armed conflict is now underway.

“Under our agency’s Social Healing and Peace-Building Office, we are conducting peace conversations with those affected by the war, particularly with the most vulnerable sectors,” he said.

“Through our dialogues with women, youth and children, we are providing them avenues to share their views and experiences, and by doing so, allow them to recover from the trauma and rebuild their lives,” he added.

Meanwhile, Galvez thanked the families of the fallen soldiers for their ultimate sacrifice and vowed to honor and remember their heroism.

“We owe to them the freedom we are enjoying. As long as I am alive, I will continue to pay my tribute to the fallen by working towards achieving all-encompassing and all-inclusive peace in our land,” he said.