(Eagle News) — Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra said there are no reports of recent recruitment for would-be members of the ISIS-inspired group in the city.
Gandamra however, told reporters during a press briefing on Friday, February 9, that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported there are possibilities of recruitments in other municipalities.
“…But ito po ay na-address na ng ating security forces,” he said, noting that martial law extension in Mindanao was a big help in general.
“Tayo po ay naniniwala na makakatulong po ito (martial law) especially in addressing itong sinasabi nating na possibilities of recruitment of the would-be members of this ISIS-inspired group… Iyan po ay malaking tulong po on top of …yung maitutulong nila during this impending reconstruction and rebuilding of Marawi City,” he said.
Second military camp in the city
Gandamra also expressed support for the government’s plan to build a second military camp in Marawi, despite some Moro groups criticizing the plan.
He was referring to the camp that was to be built at the Old City Hall.
President Rodrigo Duterte led the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the new camp on January 30.
According to Gandamra, what happened to Marawi in May when it was overran by the ISIS-inspired Maute group should be a lesson learned for critics to support the establishment of the new camp.
“Yong presence ng security forces sa Marawi City and Lanao del Sur…gusto ho namin na talagang ma-strengthen ang presence ng security forces to address all possible security threats sa ating lugar,” he pointed out.
He said there was a need “to (hold a) dialogue with the different sectors para nang sa ganun po ay maliwanagan sila, ma-enlighten sila sa purpose ng establishment ng new camp.”
Task Force Bangon Marawi Undersecretary (TFBM) Falconi V. Millar said that the establishment of a new military camp in Marawi will not affect the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the city.
He said President Duterte has been very consistent in his pronouncements that money will be spent for the rehabilitation of Marawi.
“In fact last January 30 he (President Duterte) reiterated this administration will spend money for the rehabilitation of the most affected areas and the entire Marawi City…The Task Force Bangon Marawi is so focused that we are maintaining our timelines for the development of the most affected areas in Marawi city,” the undersecretary added.
According to Millar, the rehabilitation of the entire Marawi City is expected to be completed no later than December 2021.
He said the groundbreaking scheduled in April would signal the start of the rehabilitation of the most affected areas in the city composed of 24 barangays.
He said the Technical Working Group of TFBM composed of 14 members from different departments expects to receive the unsolicited proposals for Marawi’s master development on Monday, February 12.