Marawi marks nine years since liberation, residents remain displaced

MARAWI CITY — The Army's 101st Infantry Brigade conducted a 21-gun salute on Saturday to commemorate 168 soldiers and police officers killed during the nine-year-old battle that drove Islamic State-linked militants from this southern Philippine city. October 17 marks the official date of Marawi's liberation following the fierce five-month conflict that left much of the historic city in ruins. The military ceremony underscored the sacrifices made by security forces during one of the deadliest urban confrontations in Philippine history. However, civil society groups have raised concerns that the commemoration overlooks the ongoing plight of displaced residents who have struggled to rebuild their lives since the conflict ended. According to humanitarian advocates, thousands of families remain unable to return to their homes, citing incomplete rehabilitation efforts and delayed reconstruction projects across the city. The gap between official declarations of victory and the ground reality facing survivors has become increasingly apparent as the anniversary approaches each year.

Photo: The Marawi Grand Mosque on Disalongan Street, Marawi, Lanao del Sur, October 2023. Patrickroque01 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).