INDO-PACIFIC The Military Commemorates Battle

OE Watch Commentary: Just over one year ago, the Armed Forces of the Source: “Liberation of Marawi City remembered,” The Philippines (AFP) won a decisive months-long battle against Islamic State in Philippine Star, 18 October 2018. https://www.philstar. Iraq and (ISIS)-loyal militants in Marawi. One year later, on 18 October, com/headlines/2018/10/18/1861019/liberation-marawi-city- the accompanying excerpted article from The Philippine Star discussed remembered the country’s commemoration of that battle. Quoting government officials, the article notes that millions of dollars are being devoted to the rebuilding A year after its liberation from Islamic State (IS)-linked of Marawi. However, at the same time, the article seemed to question the militants, Marawi City is inching its way to total recovery government’s commitment to the city, highlighting that President Rodrigo and freedom from terrorism and violence, with P20 billion earmarked to help its citizens rebuild their homes and Duterte skipped the commemoration and his spokesmen would not state where livelihood. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said he was that day. from , “As we celebrate the triumphs of our The AFP Chief General spoke at the event, declaring that the country stood government troops against the Daesh-inspired Maute united to defeat the evils of terrorism and that the military killed the leaders of rebels, we pay tribute to those who have fallen in the fierce the ISIS-loyal Marawi rebels. Nevertheless, the article also emphasized the high battles during the siege of Marawi and gave the ultimate price exacted in the battle for Marawi. Over one year later, the article described sacrifice to make our nation safer and more secure,” he how the city still bore the scars from aerial bombardments and fighting on said. He was mum on the whereabouts of President Duterte, the ground. Moreover, despite the military victory, Marawi remains under who skipped the anniversary rites attended by Armed martial law, which means the population still feels the effects of the battle. It is Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez unknown when martial law will end. and other ranking officials. He also lauded the military’s The article also seemed to indicate a disconnect between the AFP’s rhetoric action that led to the death of suspected terror leaders and the reality on the ground. While the AFP promises to remain vigilant to Omar Maute and . prevent terrorists from infiltrating Marawi again and asserts an attitude of Scars of months-long fighting were still visible in most bravado, the article remained focused on the displaced of Marawi. For them, the parts of the country’s only Islamic city. The government’s victory against the ISIS-loyal militants has not brought back their livelihoods. military action – including aerial bombing and massive The article reminds the reader that hundreds of thousands of the city’s residents infantry attack – had thwarted the establishment of an are still displaced and they cannot return to their homes. The government Islamic caliphate in the area and staved off the possibility of claims it has the right to restrict movement into the city because it has not violence spreading to other parts of the country, Duterte’s concluded bomb-clearing operations. Therefore, for many civilians, their battles spokesman said. are still ongoing. End OE Watch Commentary (Zenn) But despite the government’s promise of massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of the devastated city, “Despite the government’s promise of massive hundreds of displaced families are still staying at various reconstruction and rehabilitation of the devastated city, evacuation camps. The military said it has to restrict the movement of civilians in the city as troopers have yet to hundreds of displaced families are still staying at various complete their bomb clearing operations, especially at ground zero. evacuation camps.”

Local officials of province visits the Ground Zero (also known as the Main Battle Area) in Marawi for the first time since the end of the Battle of Marawi (2017). Source: Marawi Ground Zero, public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marawi_Ground_Zero.jpg. OE Watch | December 2018 39