Marawi rehab, return of displaced families delayed anew

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The return of displaced families and rehabilitation of the main battle area in Marawi will be delayed again until it is free of unexploded ordnance and bombs, according to a military official.

“We are clearing the main battle area of... unexploded ordnance because we don’t want... unnecessary loss of lives... with the hasty rehabilitation without ensuring there is no more unexploded ordnance,” Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command chief, said yesterday. 

Sobejana said the Armed Forces of the Philippines subcontracted a company to locate all the unexploded bombs fired at the height of the fighting with Maute militants in 2017. 

The rehabilitation of the main battle zone was supposed to start last July. However, Task Force Bangon Marawi said the clearing of debris is only 50 percent at the time.

Task force chairman and Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said they expect to clear all unexploded ordnances and debris by November.

Sobejana did not give a time frame on when the area could be declared safe. 

“We have explained that to the public during our dialogue in Marawi a month ago... We want to save lives. If the reconstruction will be done hastily there might be some explosion,” he said. 

On Saturday, Sobejana said an M4 Carbine rifle was recovered in the main battle area. He said the gun was issued to one of the soldiers killed in the fighting.

Last month, authorities recovered a 260-pound unexploded bomb.