AFP celebrates Marawi’s 5th liberation anniversary

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday celebrated the fifth anniversary of the liberation of Marawi City from the Maute terrorist group.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig in honor of the 169 fallen soldiers and police officers as well as the 1,800 others who were wounded in the firefight.

The ceremony at the Libingan’s Pylon ng Marawi was led by Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity Carlito Galvez Jr.

Galvez said the rehabilitation of Marawi is ongoing, with roads, bridges and other infrastructure being built.

Former interior secretary Eduardo Año, who was AFP chief at the time of the Marawi siege, and former Social Welfare and Development secretary Rolando Bautista, former chief of the Joint Task Force Marawi, attended the ceremony.

AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said the services and sacrifices of those who died or were wounded in the siege would remain forever in the hearts and minds of Filipinos.

“We owe it to the valiant and courageous men and women in uniform who fought against the Maute group that we can still fly the Philippine flag over Marawi,” Aguilar said.

The siege started on May 23, 2017 and dragged on for five months.

On Oct. 17, 2017, then president Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi free from terrorists after authorities confirmed the deaths of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute group co-founder Omar Maute.

Hapilon was reportedly the emir in Asia of the international terrorist organization Islamic State.