President Rodrigo Duterte announced the liberation of Marawi City this afternoon, after more than four months of battling Islamic State-linked terrorists, a prolonged conflict that has left more than 1,000 dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence that marks the beginning of rehabilitation of the city,” Duterte said.
The announcement came a day after terror leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed in a military assault.
READ: Head of Islamic State group in Southeast Asia Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute killed in Marawi
The conflict, the biggest security challenge that state forces had to face in years, broke out on May 23 and prompted Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law.
READ: What we know about martial law in Mindanao
The incident also showed the depth of IS-inspired extremism in the restive south and the extent of terrorists’ resources to mount months of resistance.
The crisis left much of the once urban and cultural center in ruins, with buildings either burned to the ground or damaged in firefights.
It also spawned a humanitarian crisis with more than 400,000 displaced from Marawi and nearby towns, many crammed in evacuation centers and temporary shelters.
Throughout the battle, the Philippine government remained firm in rejecting possible negotiations with terrorists even after the capture of the parents of terror leaders Abdullah and Omar Maute.
Early on, Abdullah reportedly offered to release one of his group’s hostages, Catholic priest Chito Suganob, in exchange for the release of his parents, Farhana and Cayamora.
Cayamora, who was detained at the Special Intensive Care Area in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, died in August due to several illnesses.
Suganob meanwhile was eventually rescued early in September after being held hostage for over four months.
READ: Gov’t forces rescue abducted priest, professor from Marawi City
Duterte also kept the morale of his troops, visiting Marawi and camps around the area several times throughout the crisis.
READ: Duterte makes surprise visit to war-torn Marawi
Several countries and organizations have provided aid for state troops and rebuilding efforts in the battered city, among them the United States, China, Australia, Japan and the European Union.
Duterte has ordered the creation of a task force for the rehabilitation of Marawi with an initial allocation of PHP20 billion (US$390 million).
The government has estimated the rebuilding of the city might take about two to three years.
