By Froilan Gallardo
Special Correspondent
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and his administration’s top two candidates in next year’s elections is in Marawi today for the 4th anniversary of the “liberation” of the predominantly Muslim City from the Maute group militants in 2017.
But in the neighboring northern Mindanao region, one opposition presidential candidate Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Gerona Robredo is in the Covid-19 vaccination rollout in nearby Cagayan de Oro City.
It would be the first time for the top candidates to barnstorm Mindanao regions after they filed the certificates of candidacy last week.
Duterte is accompanied by presidential contender and Senator Ronald de la Rosa, and vice-presidential bet and Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, official candidates of the administration backed PDP-Laban of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
De la Rosa and Go are also scheduled to barnstorm in the nearby Lanao del Norte in Northern Mindanao as soon as President Duterte leaves Marawi City.
Robredo is in Cagayan de Oro to spearhead her “Vaccine Express” program at the PHINMA-Cagayan de Oro College in Barangay Carmen.
Bencyrus Ellorin, convenor for LENI Tanging Pagasa 2022 Northern Mindanao , said Robredo would have lunch with Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Emiritus Antonio Ledesma and then meet her supporters at the YMCA in Barangay Puntod.
He said Robredo would proceed to Sumilao, Bukidnon, the political bailiwick of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri who has been included in the vice president’s 2022 ticket.
Ellorin said Robredo is also set to visit Iligan and Marawi cities on Monday, two days after Duterte’s visit.
Philippine Information Agency coordinator Apipa Bagumbaran said Duterte would inaugurate Marwi’s Grand Mosque that was rehabilitated by the government.
The Grand Mosque, which could accommodate more than 5,000 people was damaged during the five months of fighting to retake Marawi City from the Daesh-inspired Maute militants.
Bagumbaran said Duterte would also inaugurate facilities like barangay halls and a sports center that were constructed as part of the Marawi rehabilitation program.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Task Force Bangon Eduardo del Rosario said the government has completed 75 percent to 85 percent of the reconstruction of the bombed-out Marawi as of September 21.
Drieza Liningding, leader of the Moro Consensus Group, said the Duterte-led inauguration will leave a sour taste for thousands of Maranaos who have yet to return to their homes in the Most Affected Area (MAA).
“They will have a grand inauguration but after that, what? Maranaos cannot still go back to their homes,” Liningding said.
Marawi civil society leader and Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc called on the government to prioritize the return of the displaced residents.
“What I see after liberation is non-liberation,” Gutoc said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in its May 2020 report, said 120,000 Marawi residents were displaced by the fighting and they still need protection and support.
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