Gov't hopes to end Marawi siege before Duterte's SONA
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is hopeful that the conflict in Marawi City will end before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address on July 24. Presidential Photo
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has ordered government forces to end the conflict in Marawi City before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address later this month.
The defense secretary remains hopeful that the clash between government forces and a local terrorist group would end before Duterte's SONA so he could announce the rehabilitation program for the city.
"Sana tapos na and that is one of the things that I have asked the commanders on the ground that if they could terminate the conflict there before the president goes on his SONA," Lorenzana said in a press briefing at Malacañang on Monday.
Lorenzana added that the president has seen the situation of Marawi evacuees in Iligan City.
The government would be more at ease if the president would deliver his second SONA while rehabilitation operations are ongoing and civilians have returned to their homes in Marawi City, Lorenzana said.
"This is very important. I’ve seen the faces of those evacuees in Iligan… They’re so frustrated and so anxious to go back home. Ito 'yung nakita din ni president noong nandun kami," the defense secretary said.
Lorenzana noted that the first concern for Marawi rehabilitation is funding. He added that the rehabilitation program may require emergency procurement as usual bidding procedures take time.
READ: Government allots P10 B for Marawi rehab
The secretary refused to reveal the government's timelines for Marawi operations.
"Nasunog na ako. Nakuryente na ako," Lorenzana said.
READ: No more deadlines for military to retake Marawi
On May 23, Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao following a clash between government troops and the Maute terror group.
The armed confrontation was triggered by a government operation to neutralize Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon, who had been touted as Islamic State emir for Southeast Asia.
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