Press Release
October 17, 2017
Senator Loren Legarda today commended the brave and gallant efforts of the soldiers and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which led to the killing of the terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute; and urged authorities for the immediate rehabilitation of the war-torn city of Marawi.
“The fallen and living soldiers of our military are testament to the courage and resilience of our Filipino spirit. They are heroes in their own right who have protected us against the evils of our society. We thank these brave men and women who risked and sacrificed their lives for peace and order in our communities,” Legarda said.
“As the dust settles and once law and order are restored, I encourage all agencies to extend the maximum assistance this government can provide in the most urgent manner as possible. I am one with the many Filipinos who are calling for the immediate rehabilitation and restoration to normalcy within Marawi City,” she added.
The Senator said that, while the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already allocated P5-billion for this year, more funds have been allocated for the quick recovery and rehabilitation of the City under the proposed 2018 National Budget.
Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that aside from the budget under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund for Marawi’s rehabilitation, the Senate also introduced additional funding to ensure quick recovery of the whole community.
“In light of Marawi City’s current situation, we are making available Ten Billion Pesos of the NDRRM Fund for 2018 for the city’s quick recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation,” she said.
“We are also making available a 500-Million-Peso subsidy for a loan facility for Marawi residents, under the auspices of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), to enable them to reconstruct their damaged houses,” she added.
Legarda explained that, under a special provision in the 2018 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), it is specified that such loans will be free of interest, but the loanable amount shall not exceed Two Million Pesos per household and the LBP may charge the borrower the administrative cost incurred in processing the loan.
Legarda also said that, as the Senate restored the One Billion Pesos budget of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Project, 50 Million Pesos of the fund will be allocated for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the war in Marawi.
Moreover, the Senator also provided additional Five Million Pesos for the cultural mapping that will be done by the Mindanao State University (MSU) to preserve the intangible and tangible heritage left amid the war in the city.
“It is saddening that the war in Marawi has affected Bangsamoro heritage, with precious artifacts and heirlooms in affected homes and heritage structures destroyed. We need immediate intervention so that the next generations would not be deprived of knowledge about this rich heritage. The process itself and the output of the cultural mapping can help in the psychological healing of the affected populace and in strengthening our cultural bonds with our fellow Muslim Filipinos,” she said.
“These budgets go with our fervent prayer that we may immediately see hope, dignity, and peace restored in Marawi City and other affected areas,” Legarda concluded.
Liberal Senators: Marawi Rehabilitation instead of Revolutionary Government
Instead of floating the possibility of declaring a revolutionary government, the administration should focus on rehabilitating Marawi City as soon as the fighting stops to bring normalcy back to the city devastated by the invasion of Maute fighters, according to Partido Liberal senators.
“The government should make rehabilitation of Marawi City a top priority when the fighting stops instead of dwelling on baseless destabilization reports,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
“Nasasayang lang ang panahon ng gobyerno dahil sa pagtuon ng pansin sa destabilisasyon na bunga ng fake news. Mas maganda siguro kung ibubuhos nito ang panahon sa mga bagay na makatutulong sa bansa sa halip na makagulo rito. Dapat dagdag na kita at trabaho para sa taumbayan at hindi dagdag na kapangyarihan para sa pangulo,” said the Liberal Party president.
“(The government’s resources are wasted over fake-news-based destabilization. It would be better if time is spent on something that will help the country, not cause more disruption. More income and jobs for the people, not more power to the presidency.)”
The Marawi siege could be over any time after the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense announced the death of Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon.
Sen. Bam Aquino lauded the AFP for putting an end to the reign of terror of both Maute and Hapilon, adding that “the country is now a safer place for all Filipinos.”
“With this victory, we hope that the firefighting will soon end so the government can immediately lift Martial Law and finally focus on rebuilding and developing Marawi City,” said Sen. Aquino.
As a member of the Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation, Sen. Aquino expressed full support behind efforts to rehabilitate Marawi City and to bring normalcy and prosperity into the lives of Maranao families.
The Liberal Party said it will support the government’s moves to bring Marawi City back on its feet.
“We will fully support all efforts by the government to bring normalcy back to Marawi City and restore the city from the ravages of the fighting to its full glory,” added Sen. Aquino.
Earlier, opposition senators questioned government’s pronouncement that a revolutionary government might be declared to quell destabilization efforts against the administration.
Statement of Senator Cynthia Villar on the Liberation of Marawi
I welcome the news that President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the liberation of Marawi City from “terrorist influence” after more than four months of having been terrorized by the ISIS-linked Maute Group militants. This truly marks the start of the rebuilding of the city and the lives of its residents. I hope the displaced families can return to their homes at the soonest possible time.
Likewise, I salute the courage and bravery of the Filipino soldiers in seizing control of the stronghold of the terrorists in the city and finally killing the terror group’s leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. The valiant efforts of our troops and the sacrifice of their fallen comrades have not gone in vain.
Together with all Filipinos, we hope and pray that this will mark the end of terrorism in our country, especially in Mindanao. However, we cannot be complacent. We have to remain vigilant against any future threats to our peace and freedom. The country’s unity and the citizens’ united front are crucial for peace and order to prevail.
Together, we also have to do our parts in rebuilding what was left of Marawi City and helping our fellow Filipinos who were affected by the conflict, so they can go back to their normal lives.
Gatchalian:Statement on the Liberation of Marawi City
After almost five months of fighting, President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the liberation of Marawi City from the treacherous grasp of the Maute Rebellion.
First and foremost, we must pay tribute to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who have sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to make this victory possible. Their heroism in the face of immeasurable hardship has immortalized their legacy in the hearts and minds of a grateful nation, which will be forever in their debt.
In this moment of triumph, we must also honor the memory of the 162 soldiers who gave their lives in the defense of Marawi City. I pray that this moment will somehow assuage the incomparable grief suffered by their loved ones, that their hearts may swell with somber pride in knowing that this essential victory was made possible by the noble sacrifice of our fallen heroes.
As the fighting draws to a close, an even bigger challenge looms over the horizon – the rehabilitation of Marawi City. The city’s infrastructure is in shambles, and the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the war have been devastated. The government must make the rehabilitation effort one of its foremost priorities in the coming years. A united Filipino people must work together to build Marawi back into something better than it ever was.
Lastly, we must remember that the Battle of Marawi City is just one theater in the larger war against violent extremism. May the resounding defeat of the Maute group serve as an ominous warning to any terrorists who would dare challenge the sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines. I urge the government to build on the lessons learned from the Marawi conflict as it continues the campaign to eradicate all terrorist threats in Mindanao and beyond.
God Bless the Philippines!