MANILA, Philippines — The main battle area in Marawi may need to be “bulldozed” as it has been greatly ravaged by the clashes between government forces and terrorists, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Wednesday.
Andanar, who was in Marawi when President Rodrigo Duterte declared it liberated from terrorists last Tuesday, said everything in the battle area has been rendered useless.
“I was there in ground zero, talagang wala ka nqng mapapakinabangan eh (everything there can no longer be of use).
“You really have to bulldoze the entire area, the ground zero,” Andanar said.
READ: Marawi freed but martial law remains
Andanar said members of the Task Force Bangon Marawi would meet to discuss ways to rebuild and rehabilitate the battle-ravaged city.
“We are still chasing a few people but relatively its already safe to rebuild Marawi,” he said.
But Andanar clarified that the liberation of Marawi would not immediately lead to the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.
“I wouldn’t say that. I would leave that to the president, because we all know there are still (terrorist) elements in Basilan and in Jolo, Sulu,” the official said.
“We talked to rescued hostages about three days ago. They said only a few (foreign fighters) remained in the battlefield,” he added,
READ: AFP: Pockets of fighting despite announced liberation of Marawi
Andanar said the terrorist stronghold in the Marawi has been reduced to two hectares.
“They (government forces) have cornered the enemy. It’s just the matter of time,” he added.
Duterte visited Marawi for the seventh time last Tuesday and declared the city freed from the influence of Maute terrorists.
The president made the declaration a day after terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed in an encounter with government forces, a development described as a major defeat for Islamic extremists in the region.
READ: How Maute, Hapilon died in one of last Marawi gunfights
The Islamic State-linked bandits occupied the city last May 23 and kidnapped several civilians, prompting Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao. Security officials said the “rebellion” was funded by drug money and was supported by politicians involved in the narcotics trade.
A total of 847 terrorists, 163 government troopers and 47 civilians have died since the siege started last May. The crisis also displaced 78,466 families or 359,680 persons.
Officials have yet to complete its damage assessment but the Defense department said at least P100 billion might be needed to rebuild the affected areas.