Camp Sang-An, Zamboanga del Sur —President Rodrigo Duterte led the 4th year commemoration of the liberation of Marawi from the ISIS-inspired militants on Saturday, October 16, in Marawi City.
Duterte recognized the outstanding contribution of the military in liberating Marawi City from the terrorist influence, the event where it took the lives of many soldiers.
“Let me, again, give recognition to our soldiers and police personnel and local constituency for their bravery, sacrifice, and determination in defending and liberating Marawi City after five months of battle,” Duterte said.
The siege of Marawi displaced 98 percent of the total population of the city. It was dubbed as one of the longest urban battles in Philippine history. On October 17, President Duterte formally declared the liberation of Marawi after five months of bloody urban battle.
Military officers who played a significant role in liberating Marawi City were present during the event. It was also attended by the DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, OPPAP Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong of BARMM, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra, and other local and national government officials.
The wreath-laying ceremony at the Heroes Wall at the headquarters of 103rd Infantry Brigade was graced by Secretary Lorenzana. Engraved on the Heroes Wall are the names of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to liberate the city.
Secretary Lorenzana awards the Military Gold Cross Medal to Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the 103rd Brigade Commander, for his gallantry in action by personally leading a breach team in April 2021 during the successful neutralization of a known and trusted sub-leader of Abu Zacariah named Usop N Nasif a.k.a. Abu Asraf, who was responsible in the numerous killings of PNP and Army personnel in Lanao del Sur.
Meanwhile, Task Force Bangon Marawi presented the status of the rehabilitation to the President. The President also witnessed the distribution of permanent house and lot title to beneficiaries and financial assistance for Marawi City cooperatives.
(News & photos courtesy of Team Tabak)